It’s quite hard to review an animated film objectively when we are so accustomed to big-budget games and movies with high-end graphics, like Pixar Shorts.
However,Ta’i is a poignant short animated film by Mii Taokia about the wanton and targeted destruction of the abundantly resourced and beautiful pacific islands by the ‘Island Eaters’ – a system of corrupt government scientists.
The pastel-hued, blurred visuals heighten the islands’ lushness and give a sense of dreamlike beauty, juxtaposed against the more sinister imagery of their oppressors. This is all underscored by a modern lo-fi soundtrack that subtly contrasts the intimate devastation.
Even the island Gods, goaded into action, are unable to stop the destruction until they combine their powers and share them with a ‘worthy individual’.
The film’s central tenet is that a place’s most valuable but overlooked resource is its people and that sometimes, they are the only way to create real change.
Indeed, an individual taking a stand for what is right and good is all that has ever effected change, and this message feels especially resonant in today’s political climate.
It was a real pleasure to review this soulful short film by Ngā Aho Whakaari as part of the Maori Short Film Festival and not just because it’s so impressive to see filmmakers who can create something so beautiful, with such incredible production values, on a small budget.
Exploring important themes of land and belonging – environmental protection, the preservation of cultural identity and intergenerational familial relationships – we are introduced to 16-year-old Hiwa who returns home from boarding school to discover her beloved grandfather, the local ‘land legend’, is seriously ill and unable to tend to the forest he has spent his life protecting.
Whilst her younger brother Pōtiki, who has clearly inherited his grandfather’s deep affinity for the ‘whenua’ (land), is determined to follow in his Korua’s footsteps, Hiwa struggles to integrate her simple, traditional values with the ‘modern’ world she inhabits at school.
Both children wrestle with the shifting dynamics in their family, and the darkly green and lush scenery is a beautiful but ominous metaphor, reflecting both Hiwa and Pōtiki’s realisations of the importance of their new roles as the next generation of guardians for the land and their family.
This film was part warning, part love letter to land and culture. As someone who has a deep connection to land myself, it was an invitation to recognise the ways in which we are called to stand as protectors for that to which we ‘belong. ‘ It’s definitely one to watch.
My Melbourne—aahhh, I love that city; it is vibrant, alive, and pulsing with stories. Joyfully, that is what the film My Melbourne also presents to the audience: four main characters at a turning point in their lives… an intimate brief look.
The cinematography has few flaws, and the short films blend effortlessly, thrusting the viewer into the middle of a new story. All stories are relatable to the viewer: the parents’ disappointment in their son’s life choices, the marriage that sees the culture questioned, the talented dancer with a progressive disease, and the refugee with the burden to be successful.
But what is human nature if not a trial and a fight to succeed? These stories are about hope, acceptance, fulfilment, and belonging. They are beautifully brought to life, each with elements of truth based on real-life experiences.
It’s well worth a trip to the cinema so you can sit and enjoy, feel real-life emotions, and feel a sense of gratitude. What happened to bring these characters to this point in their lives, and where do they go from here?
My favourite was the story of Setara—the interaction between her, her sister, and her mother didn’t need translation. The glimpses of her father were meaningful and moving. This would be a movie I would enjoy on the big screen or the television.
Keep an eye out for the screenings of My Melbourne, which will be released in Australia on March 6. Take a good friend and a box of tissues just in case. For more information about the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne, please visit https://www.iffm.com.au/.
It’s easy to look at a film made by a recent high school graduate, raised either looking down the barrel of a phone camera or haphazardly pointing it at others, and assume they simply don’t know any better. But it quickly becomes apparent that this is not the case at all. There are a lot of things in Telesia that you discover in sitting with her for just 20 minutes as she recounts her relationship with the Chinese language, Polynesian identity, social empowerment, and cross-cultural connection. She’s a polyglot, extremely intelligent and fiercely creative, a leader in her community, and above all, a kind soul.
Telesia 2 the World is directed and edited by Telesia Tanoa’i, a young Samoan New Zealand woman with an international view of the world. While at home, Telesia has become a leader in youth advocacy, cultural representation, and climate activism. Growing up, living and travelling abroad imbued Telesia with a natural curiosity and interest in the world, particularly through the lens of the Chinese language. The home-movie clips we open with see child Telesia showcase her natural jubilance and confidence as she explores with her parents.
Returning home and entering her teens, she begins to use her sense of humour and creativity to make videos for TikTok, while acknowledging the difficulty in maintaining language practice. Motivated by her Chinese language teacher at school, Telesia enters the Chinese Bridge Language Competition. The film comes alive as Telesia’s efforts see her travel to China to compete in each stage of the competition. The sights from her bus and the vlog posts she records are brightened by the array of rich colour in Chinese architecture and gardens, as well as Telesia’s beaming smile.
You’ll see Telesia speak about how nervous she is as she takes to the stage in front of an international audience. Not only does Telesia showcase her ability to converse and orate in Chinese; the combination of Telesia’s linguistic capabilities and musical talent make her an exciting competitor. Nothing about her presence on stage suggests the anxiety she internalises – Telesia projects coolness and confidence in front of a crowd. When she speaks directly to the audience in her ‘interview’ segments, you have the chance to see that warm and empathetic side of her on full display.
It’s because of this empathy that Telesia manages to overcome the challenges thrown her way. She carries the spirit of her culture and family with her, proudly wearing Maori-designed clothing and continuing to advocate for her home across international borders. The power of trans-linguistic communication is shown full force in a clip where Telesia introduces her competition roommate, Arwen from Malaysia. The two speak in Chinese, their friendship overcoming the language barriers that might usually challenge two people from across the world connecting with each other in such a powerful way. This theme runs throughout as Telesia celebrates the success of her competitors, people who she has come to regard as international friends through their shared love of Chinese language.
Now, Telesia has graduated, and her film has premiered. If this is any indication of her future, Telesia is sure to accomplish a lot. If you’re in doubt about the state of the world – international tension or the alarming increase of global temperatures – spare half an hour to see what our future leaders are already accomplishing as you follow Telesia on her journey to the world!
