Tinā

Drama | Written and directed by Miki Magasiva | M (violence, offensive language and suicide)

Tinā tells the story of Samoan music teacher Mareta Percival (brilliantly played by Anapela Polataivao) whose daughter is killed in the Christchurch earthquake, and her hard road back to teaching, this time relieving at an elite Christchurch school. In an effort to connect with the students, Mareta starts a school choir, eventually taking her students to the secondary schools’ national competition The Big Sing. Themes of racism, suicide, grief and domestic violence could have made this movie a depressing watch, but Miki’s ability to showcase Samoan humour in the darkest of circumstances overlays a hopeful and light-filled touch to this wonderful script. Best seen with a friend or partner, but don’t forget the tissues.