Dawn Raid

2021

1h 38m

Documentary

Music

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15 Reviews

Dawn Raid is the story of two Manukau Polytechnic students, Andy Murane and Tanielu Leaosavai'i (aka Brotha D) who turned a bootleg t-shirt business and Hip-Hop night at a local bar in Otara into the influential Dawn Raid Entertainment empire. From humble beginnings to fame and fortune, Andy, Brotha D and the Dawn Raid artists gave voice to a disenfranchised Pacific community, for which the violence of the dawn raids, twenty years previously, was still raw. But the bravado and contempt for the status quo that drove Andy and Brotha D to the top, was also the unravelling of their empire. Unpaid tax debts, rifts between artists, and a feeling of betrayal and failure underpinned the downfall of Dawn Raid Entertainment, though not before they had created an immeasurable musical legacy that would pave the way for future New Zealand artists to reach international audiences.

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Tim Cogshell

FilmWeek (KPCC - NPR Los Angeles)

I thought it was a really great film about a scene that I knew nothing about.

Jan 7, 2022

Full Review

David Stratton

The Australian

Oscar Kightley's affectionate portrait of Brother D, Andy and their friends is enjoyable even if you're not into the music.

Rated: 3.5/5

Jan 23, 2021

Full Review

Carla Hay

Culture Mix

The compelling documentary Dawn Raid is not only an inspirational story of 'against all odds' entrepreneurship but also a cautionary tale about how greed and mismanagement can ruin a business.

Feb 7, 2022

Full Review

Jana Monji

Age of the Geek

This is a charming cautionary tale of mixing business with family and sudden fame with an insufficient amount of education.

Rated: 3/5

Jan 16, 2022

Full Review

Rob Aldam

Backseat Mafia

A rags to riches, and back again, story with a twist.

Jan 11, 2022

Full Review

Hope Madden

MaddWolf

"Delightful" is a word I wouldn't expect to use to describe a documentary about the rise and fall of a hip-hop empire. And yet, there you have it.

Rated: 3.5

Jan 11, 2022

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Scott M

The come-back as told by Andy Murnane and his father's comments on going bust with the label give real first person cred to great story about friendship, success, failure and doing right by your community.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/26/22

Full Review

Audience Member

One of the best things about doing this site is that I learn about things I'd never know otherwise. Like New Zealand hop hop. Dawn Raid Entertainment was started by Andy Murnane and Brotha D and the label includes stars like Savage, Mareko, Adeaze and Aaradhna. From humble beginnings selling t-shirts on the streets of South Auckland, Andy and Brotha D formed a legendary partnership that would enjoy worldwide success. Oscar Kightley's first full-length film, this movie moves quickly and involved me in a story and life that I had no idea I would have any interest in. Thats the hallmark of a great filmmaker and an interesting piece of art. So while I may never listen to anything Dawn Raid has released, I could see the passion and drive they had to change their lives and the lives of everyone around them. Named for the 70s raids that targeted Polynesian immigrants to New Zealand, this hard scrabble label made its share of mistakes — Andy and Brotha D are more than open about some of the not-so-great choices they made along the way — while also finding surprising success. With quick cut animation, great insight from artists and even family members connected to the label, as well as the authentic and honest remembrances of the label from its founders, this is a movie worth watching.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/06/23

Full Review

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Oscar Kightley

Director

Andy Murnane

Self

Brotha D

Self

Matthew Metcalfe

Writer

Tim Woodhouse

Writer

Fraser Brown

Executive Producer

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Synopsis

Dawn Raid is the story of two Manukau Polytechnic students, Andy Murane and Tanielu Leaosavai'i (aka Brotha D) who turned a bootleg t-shirt business and Hip-Hop night at a local bar in Otara into the influential Dawn Raid Entertainment empire. From humble beginnings to fame and fortune, Andy, Brotha D and the Dawn Raid artists gave voice to a disenfranchised Pacific community, for which the violence of the dawn raids, twenty years previously, was still raw. But the bravado and contempt for the status quo that drove Andy and Brotha D to the top, was also the unravelling of their empire. Unpaid tax debts, rifts between artists, and a feeling of betrayal and failure underpinned the downfall of Dawn Raid Entertainment, though not before they had created an immeasurable musical legacy that would pave the way for future New Zealand artists to reach international audiences.

Director: Oscar Kightley
Producer: Fraser Brown
Screenwriter: Matthew Metcalfe, Tim Woodhouse, Oscar Kightley, Matthew Metcalfe, Tim Woodhouse
Production Co: General Film Corporation
Genre: Documentary, Music
Original Language: English (Australia)
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 11, 2022
Runtime: 1h 38m

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