TINA - A Response

On the 11th of February, I had the honour of attending the Tāmaki Makaurau premiere of Tinā. Fa’afetai tele lava Samson Rambo for inviting me to be part of this spectacular celebration of Samoan people, culture and stories.

I am so proud of us.

Seeing Queen Street swimming in hibiscus hues and siva smiles was like being greeted by red lipstick kisses at a Samoan 21st. That bustling, grey intersection of anonymous passersby was transformed into an ocean of electric colour and radiating alofa when our aunties, mums and ancestors arrived. The Civic became a sea of disarming hugs and reverberating laughter when its walls bowed to their unified voices.

I am so proud of us.

Tinā was exceptionally funny, cinematically stunning and unflinchingly honest. As a result of Miki Magasiva’s artful, authentic storytelling, the audience was in joyful or devastating hysterics throughout the entire film.

I am so proud of us.

Anapela Polataivao was completely captivating as Mareta Percival. She embodied the quick wit, boundless warmth and fierce courage of Samoan mothers in her equally heartbreaking and uplifting performance.

I am so proud of us.

Seeing the most intimate aspects of a mother’s grief on-screen was like coming home to clinking teaspoons and wailing in the lounge. Kitchen conversations that were as crack-up as they were confronting echoed the sacredness of respect and reciprocity in le vā.

I am so proud of us.

Hearing our cheekiness bounce around the high ceilings of an opulent theatre,
While our wisdom stretched deep into the earth beneath our hot seats,
Was like absorbing the resonant charisma of that uncle,
Who has one long nail for strumming old strings.