Uploaded June 2026 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
Faces of Ambition - Lindauer’s portraits reveal stories of ambition, courage and political change as descendants revisit the lives of remarkable Māori pioneers and leaders.
Director: Julian Arahanga
Genre: Documentary Series, Art, History
Country: New Zealand
Language: English
Also Known As: Behind the Brush S2 E01
Release Date: 2014
Filming Location: New Zealand
Synopsis:
Behind the Brush: Faces of Ambition opens the second season with an exploration of three extraordinary Māori tūpuna whose lives reflected the rapid transformation of Aotearoa during the 19th century. Through the portraits of Gottfried Lindauer and the voices of descendants, the episode uncovers stories of determination, leadership and cultural resilience preserved through art.
A pioneering publican and entrepreneur challenges expectations in a changing colonial society, while a retired warrior dreams of an almost mythical encounter — wrestling Queen Victoria’s lions. Alongside them stands a young Māori Member of Parliament whose dedication to his people helped shape a new political future for Māori communities.
As descendants reconnect with these ancestral portraits, Lindauer’s paintings become more than historical artifacts. They emerge as deeply human records of aspiration, identity and survival during a period of immense social change. Blending portraiture, oral history and cultural reflection, the documentary reveals how art can preserve both the public achievements and private spirit of those who shaped history.
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#documentaries #art #heritage
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COPYRIGHT: All of the films published by us are legally licensed. We have acquired the rights (at least for specific territories) from the rightholders by contract. Plot11 Publishing GmbH. Standart ®
Faces of Ambition - Lindauer’s portraits reveal stories of ambition, courage and political change as descendants revisit the lives of remarkable Māori pioneers and leaders.
Director: Julian Arahanga
Genre: Documentary Series, Art, History
Country: New Zealand
Language: English
Also Known As: Behind the Brush S2 E01
Release Date: 2014
Filming Location: New Zealand
Synopsis:
Behind the Brush: Faces of Ambition opens the second season with an exploration of three extraordinary Māori tūpuna whose lives reflected the rapid transformation of Aotearoa during the 19th century. Through the portraits of Gottfried Lindauer and the voices of descendants, the episode uncovers stories of determination, leadership and cultural resilience preserved through art.
A pioneering publican and entrepreneur challenges expectations in a changing colonial society, while a retired warrior dreams of an almost mythical encounter — wrestling Queen Victoria’s lions. Alongside them stands a young Māori Member of Parliament whose dedication to his people helped shape a new political future for Māori communities.
As descendants reconnect with these ancestral portraits, Lindauer’s paintings become more than historical artifacts. They emerge as deeply human records of aspiration, identity and survival during a period of immense social change. Blending portraiture, oral history and cultural reflection, the documentary reveals how art can preserve both the public achievements and private spirit of those who shaped history.
····················································································
SUPPORT US!
✘ Membership - bit.ly/44ORoBA
STAY TUNED!
✘ Whatsapp channel - bit.ly/43jW0A4
#documentaries #art #heritage
····················································································
COPYRIGHT: All of the films published by us are legally licensed. We have acquired the rights (at least for specific territories) from the rightholders by contract. Plot11 Publishing GmbH. Standart ®
