Belonging is a matter of perception In both Steven Herrick’s 20th century verse novel, The Simple Gift, and the 20th century film, Once Were Warriors, directed by Lee Tamahori, belonging is portrayed as a matter of perception. Once Were Warriors tells the story of a contemporary Maori family that is dysfunctional due to the pressure of Jake’s addiction to alcohol and explosive violence, seen through his wife of eighteen years, Beth and their five children. In both The Simple Gift and Once Were Warriors, Billy and Grace, respectively, perceive themselves as not being able to connect with their fathers and thus do not feel a sense of belonging, so they both go on a search for their own sense of identity. Billy finds his sense of place at Bendarat, where he meets Old Bill, who eventually becomes his mentor and a father-like figure, and Caitlin, who becomes his partner. Meanwhile, Grace finds her sense of identity when she writes short stories for her younger siblings and becoming a mother-like figure to them as her mother, and when she is with her best friend, Toot.