Last night, I had the privilege of attending the premiere of Marlon Williams: Ngā Ao E Rua - Two Worlds, the new documentary on celebrated musician and artist Marlon Williams directed by WIFT member, Ursula Grace Williams. This is her first feature film.
I caught up with Ursula this morning, the day following the premiere.
“How did it feel sitting in the cinema last night?” I asked Ursula. “I was not at ease,” she revealed, which, from my perspective was a surprise, because she delivered her opening speech with such truth, humour and grace, much like the film she has just helmed. “I was really nervous. This was my most critical audience. There’s no hiding behind the lens.” It was a sold out screening at The Civic on a rainy Tuesday night in Auckland Central. “And how does it feel now,” I ask her. “I have a huge sense of relief. I feel extremely grateful for the turnout on a rainy Tuesday night.”
Ursula met Marlon as he was about to embark on the journey of creating his first-ever te reo Māori album. “We were talking about collaborating,” she recalled, “I knew what he was about to do needed to sit in our archives.”
We are grateful she made this choice. The film is outstanding. What Ursula captured in Marlon’s essence, on screen, was many things, but what stood out was the vivaciousness of his spirit, his soulful charm, his unique, one-of-kind way. There’s this incredible dance of humanity, heart, soul, all woven in his awe-inspiring te reo Māori journey.
“I wanted to share this phenomenally inspiring human being. This was only ever going to happen once, and to me, Marlon is such a taonga to Aotearoa.”
And while the story is centred on Marlon, it also radiates out to the people around him. “He’s a loyalist, like me,” she shared. “This film is a reflection of that.” Like Marlon, Ursula has been working with the same teams throughout her creative journey. “Relationships are so dear to him, and many of these people are introspective, private individuals, so there was a real duty of care to them.”
And while she shared that working with Marlon brought an ease in many ways, sharing he is the “unofficial mayor of various towns unlocking various doors,” there were other unexpected challenges.
This experience was a training ground for her in terms of the process of higher-stakes filmmaking. “There are so many shareholders, cooks in the kitchen, all invested in this piece of art. I found myself fighting for my vision, more than what I had bargained for.”
In the early days of their collaboration, opening into the deeper layers of Marlon took time. “He's so well media trained. He's been ‘on show’ since he was about 14 years old, and with that comes a performativity. He would try to fill all the spaces, being him wasn’t enough, always performing for the camera. But, as our bond grew, with myself and the crew, those walls came down.”
Ursula honoured this sacred view into his life. She recognized the privilege in being privy to many personal elements of someone's life, who is in the spotlight, “there’s a lot of personal things, in the rushes.” Ursula had to ensure this film was his authentic voice, and that all choices were made in integrity. “I didn't know how many times I would have to say no.”
The gift of this process for Ursula was in learning to stand in her decisions. “I learnt to stand in my decisions, and also trust my process.”
As she comes to the end of a big journey she reflects, “I think everything you do in life, and creativity, is only an extension from what you last did. I learnt a lot, especially about the business side of the film world, negotiations, and learning to stand up for yourself, especially when you are standing opposite folks who have a lot more experience.”
She looks forward to the ripple effect this film has, “that’s the magic of storytelling; you find the things you connect to.”
“One thing I have been thinking about lately, when you place your attention and really listen and don't judge, you can learn so much about someone else and yourself. So, I hope that when audiences place their attention on this film they learn something about themselves.”
Congratulations Ursula, you’ve made a truly beautiful, and inspiring taonga for Aotearoa!
The film opens in cinemas tomorrow, on May 1. We have five double pass giveaways.
The film offers an intimate, beautifully crafted portrait of one of Aotearoa’s most distinctive voices — tracing Williams' journey through music, culture, and personal evolution. Capturing not just the highs of a career in the spotlight, but also the quieter, more vulnerable moments behind the scenes, as he writes and records his first album in te reo Māori.
This film gives audiences an insight into his world as an artist and a human navigating the sensitivity of living with his world open through his artistry. The film is rich with personal moments, archival footage, and stunning live performances, sharing a vibrant, sincere, and playful look into Williams’ life and artistry.
Marlon Williams: Ngā Ao E Rua - Two Worlds - Trailer
Question: Send us the name of Marlon’s te reo album to be in the draw to win. Email: office@wiftnz.org.nz
Article by Nina Reed
Picture: Marlon Williams, Ursula Grace Williams