The Movie: Tina (Mother)
The Cinema: Hoyts Victoria Gardens
Runtime: Two hours and four minutes
Stars: 4
What you think you're going to get after seeing the trailer for Tina and what you are presented with are two different things. And this is okay.
This is a little gem of a film which comes out of New Zealand. Some of my favourite films come from here. The Hunt for the Wilderpeople, What We Do in the Shadows, Uproar, Heavenly Creatures... New Zealand has long punched above its weight when it comes to films.
You expect a comedy. It's not, though saying that, there are some wonderfully funny moments in the film. This does not make it a disappointment. This is a wonderful little film.
Mareta Perceval (Anapela Polataivao), a teacher who has been in service to students in the bad parts of town is mourning the loss of her daughter in the Christchurch earthquake of 2011. Mareta is a stalwart f the Samoan community. Mother to many, leader of the church choir and all around good egg, you can only feel for this plucky woman. Three years later, still struggling, she's forced back to work after they threaten to stop her social security. Desperation has her take a job in the poshed private school in Christchurch.
And the fish out of water element of the film begins.
Mareta's methods are somewhat unconventional for the highly regimented school. And yes, there are a lot of stock characters. The injured and delicate Sophie (Antonia Robinson), the rugby star Anthony (Zac O'Meagher), the Asian swot, Mei-Ling (Talia Pua)... you get the drift.
Where this film surprises is that it's not quite the comedy you expect it to be. There are some funny scenes as Mareta whips the choir into shape.
But what is most effective is that this film is a look at loss and grief and clawing your way back. It's a film about the power of music and community and love.
Miki Magasiva's writing and directing are spot on. They're touching without being trite.
What's even more effective about this film is the music and the setting. The choral music with a lot of emphasis on Islander music, is exquisite.
Then there is the Christchurch setting. Having been to Christchurch a number of times, thanks to my friend Geetangeli living there, it's a place for which I have a lot of fondness. This film is set during and after the 2011 earthquake. I've been told first-hand how everybody in Christchurch has been impacted by the earthquake. This film shows this beautifully.
I really enjoyed this film. Although it wasn't quite what I expected it to be, I loved the music, the story and its heart.
And if you do go see this, take tissues. You'll need them. I came out of this with my sleeve drenched in tears.
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