Film

On the island of Rapa-Nui, teenager Marahoro is not only in the midst of his transition from boy to man, but embarking on an exploration of his relationship with his heritage and culture. This 2024 short-film, directed and written by Sofia Rodriguez Pizero, explores generational tensions, the conflict of duty and desire, and what it means to embrace oneself completely.

Poike Tuki Mejia stars as the film’s lead and does so much justice to the position Marahoro is in. He’s young, but craving freedom and adventure. This places him in opposition to his father Tu’umaheke, played by Aka-hanga Rapu Tuki, a cultural leader who directs the Mana Ma’ohi Ensemble (which is a real cultural performance group, for those interested in travelling to Rapa Nui to visit!).

Tu’umaheke strives for excellence. His passion and appreciation for their heritage manifest in his high demands of the ensemble. Young men exert their energy, but do not move in their dance properly. Women perfect their dances, but then fail to sing loudly enough. Even the drummers, some of them Tu’umaheke’s seniors in age, face his wrath. For all the ferocity Tu’umeheke musters, there is no doubt that he motivates his group.

But this does not come without a cost. Marahoro, a member of the ensemble, struggles with his father’s methods of cultural preservation. Whether it’s through placing stress on his dance group, demanding Marahoro spend more time practicing cultural movements, or by limiting his opportunities to see his friends, Mejia beautifully conveys the strained relationship many young men experience as they begin to question trusted, but disciplined, authority guiding them verse the ever-growing desire for autonomy, freedom and sensory pleasure.

The audience can be grateful that Marahoro offers a form of sensory pleasure as well. Pizero’s direction leads to commendable, deeply emotional acting. The working partnership between Pizero and cinematographer Fred Renata ensures that each frame of the film highlights either the intimacy of emotions in the characters, the richness and depth of cultural traditions, or the raw wonders of nature on the island. The film is clear and crisp in its camerawork, with a delightful vibrancy of colour throughout. With Mana Ma’ohi musicians and dancers taking part in the film, it’s beautiful and inspiring to witness several performances of song and dance.

Throughout the film, Marahoro yearns to spend time with his friends. A skilled surfer, Marahoro must compromise his time with his friends and in the water to sing and dance about swimming with turtles with the cultural group under the strict supervision of his father. Marahoro’s cautious attempts to question further the conflict between him and his father. While they both have the same love for their ancestors and, deep down, are driven to preserve and share their legacy, their alternative means of doing so threaten to drive them apart.

Marahoro must learn to be a leader. But is the only way to do so by following his father, or can he find a way to balance his youthful spirit with his own admiration of the land and its people?

To book tickets to the Maori Land Mini Film Festival, please visit https://www.bunjilplace.com.au/events/maoriland-film-festival

This review also appears on It’s On The House. Check out more reviews at Whats The Show to see what else is on in your town.