Billy-John (Dahnu Graham) has had enough of small-town life. And it doesn’t get much smaller than the Auckland suburb of Papakura. His job at the local pool is pretty much a nightmare thanks to his boss Paul (Elliot Blakely), a lifeguard who takes things way too seriously, especially where there’s a “code brown” involved. And while he’s always got his best mate Hotene (Lionel Wellington), there’s only so much aimless wandering around you can do before your life starts to feel a little… well, aimless.
So when the chance comes to start again on the Gold Coast, he grabs it with both hands. After all, that’s where everyone’s going who’s given up on Papakura. The downside to this particular chance is that it involves carrying a mysterious package from his Uncle Trev (Scott Cotter) – okay, yes, it’s a bag of weed. Oh, and it means saying goodbye to everything he’s known.
That includes his girlfriend and fellow pool worker Trinity (Kiri Naik), leaving her alone with Paul’s clumsy advances (which seem to largely involve talking about martial arts star Donnie Yu). Plus he’s got to scrape together the cash to actually make the trip. And what would leaving it all behind be without one final big blow-out night with the boys?
‘Kura’. Source: Distributor
Kura is the kind of hyper-local series that feels true to life thanks to a sharp eye for the kind of details that only those who know the area backwards would think to include – including an opening credits sequence that’s a direct take-off of the opening credits of The Sopranos, only with Auckland landmarks doubling for New York. Series creators James Watson and Vince McMillian grew up together in Papakura, and their local knowledge is a big part of what makes Kura so much fun.
Everywhere Billy-John and Hotene go, it always feels like they’re running around a real place, whether they’re passing by an op shop, tattoo parlour, swimming pool or the locally notorious Stampede Bar. That small-scale authenticity extends to the bond between the duo. They’re a solid comedy double act, two best friends with matching self-applied stick-and-poke tattoos and a vibe that nothing could come between – apart from Billy-John’s desire to get as far away from Papakura as he can on the money raised from doing jobs for his mum Sharon (Amiria Reriti).
Best mates, Hotene (Lionel Wellington) and Billy-John (Dahnu Graham) in ‘Kura’. Source: Distributor
Their close friendship is what gives Billy-John’s decision serious stakes. When Hotene first hears about Billy-John’s decision to leave, there’s heart-breaking sadness in his expression, even as he voices his support for the move. Thanks to the at times surprisingly subtle performances from Graham and Wellington, there’s believable depth to the bond between them, even when they might just seem like stoners who’ve been driving around doing “not much, really” since they left high school.
SBS On Demand is showing both seasons of Kura – no spoilers, but it’s safe to reveal that Billy-John’s plans don’t go quite as expected – and the one constant throughout the series is that when it comes to getting in trouble, Billy-John is leading the way. He’s the one constantly pushing the boundaries, and in Papakura the boundaries tend to be pretty narrow.
Usually this kind of comedy double act has a sensible-ish lead and a sidekick who keeps getting into trouble. Here it’s Billy-John who’s the one going off the rails. Hotene proves to be the level-headed one who’s content with his lot in life. He’s totally on board with supporting his best friend but willing to stand his ground when he doesn’t like where things are going.
Billy-John’s boss Paul (Elliot Blakely). Source: Distributor
It might be about two fairly aimless guys messing around the suburbs, but Kura has a real warmth to it. A lot of that comes from Billy-John’s desire to make something out of his life; that’s also the source of a lot of the comedy. The opening scene where he’s ordered to clean up that code brown at the swimming pool might not end well for Paul, but it doesn’t bode well for Billy-John either. “Kura” means school in Maori; hurling “a floater” at his boss suggests Billy-John still has a lot to learn.
Seasons 1 and 2 of Kura are now streaming . (Season 1 is only one episode, as it is a compilation of the orginal short-form web series episodes)
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