For a wide review of film on the ‘South Pacific’ Healy and Wittersheim’s introduction to a journal special edition called ‘  The Pacific on Screens: From Representation to Reappropriation‘ is excellent. There is no mention of Tonga.

There are many videos and documentaries on Tonga that provide ways to learn more about Tonga and explore the value of video for Tongan filmmakers. Check out long established Pasifika Film Festivals such as Wairoa Maori Film Festival, Pasifika Film Festival, FIFO,  HIFF, NZIFF and DocEdge which screen some of them.

The Coconet TV is a great and expanding resource of Pasifika films including remastered films about Tonga and challenging films about deportees such as Gangsters in Paradise. The Coconet TV produced with Kingston Productions and NZ on Air the first Tongan language drama series, which is available free to view. Brutal Lives – Mo’ui Faingata’a can be seen free online and on Youtube. Chapter 4 portrays a traditional healer treating the lead character and the revelation of a family curse.

There is also the Tonga based film festival founded in 2012, the Nuku’alofa International Film Festival that screens films of many genres, and testifies to the creativity of a new generation of Tongan filmmakers.

A good example is Felehuhuni , a spooky tale that screened at Pasifika Film Festival 2020. It is co-directed and written by Alokoulu Ulukivaiola and Michael Tohi and produced by Ilaisaane Sisi’uno Helu starring Diamond Langi, Aloko’ulu Ulukivaiola & Nox Nonga Bull. Watch here. It was filmed in the grounds of ‘Atenisi University.

Each year DocEdge and the NZIFF (New Zealand International Film Festival)  feature documentaries and feature films in their dedicated Pasifika sections. In 2020 Docedge screened a wonderful documentary of the day in the life of a young Tongan woman with Down’s syndrome. ‘Ofeina’o Lesieli also won the Audience award at the Nuku’alofa Film Festival 2019. Learn more here.

My favourite three documentaries on Tonga are the result of many years of involvement and serious engagement and attempt a transformative intercultural understanding on celebrated individuals who themselves reflect and manifest the wider issues facing Tonga. Tongan Ark and For My Father’s Kingdom inspired me to aspire for a documentary that would be valued by Tongan and non-Tongan audiences.

Tongan Ark

This wonderful documentary on Professor Futa Helu and Atenisi University was released in 2012 by Paul and Echo Janman. The film is now free to view on vimeo.  Do also watch the remarkable video of the premiere that shows how important for the film to be presented and shared in a Tongan way that encouraged mafana, heartfelt love.

For My Father’s Kingdom.

A hugely successful documentary with Tongan and European audiences, is a powerful visual testimony to Vea Mafile’o (Co-director) father’s commitment to church and Tonga.

Leitis in Waiting

An award winning documentary about transgender identity in Tonga, starring Joey Mataele that has brought a message of hope to many film festivals globally.

DOCUMENTARIES

Kau Faito’o

This is short documentary about healers in Tonga. You can view it free here.

Kau Fingota

This documentary about women gathering seafood in Vava’u features the famous traditional healer, Sina Fetuani.

The Oceans Knows No Borders

An inspiring documentary featuring the Vava’u born Captain Aunofo Havea, the first licensed female Polynesian sea captain. Also screened with the title of Captain Aunofo

The following two films featured in the Okalani FIlm Festival 2019.

PACIFIC LINES

‘Angie Scarth-Johnson travels to ‘Eua – an island in the Kingdom of Tonga, with two objectives: to connect to a side of her family she previously knew little about, and to evolve her climbing career from climbing hard grades, to developing new routes. Angie sets out to explore her past, and the possibilities of route development in Tonga.’,

WATER HOUSE  or Back in the Water House
‘A story about motherhood, Back in the Water House follows mother-daughter artists Suliet Fieme’a Burrows and Tui Emma Gillies as their relationship is further strengthened by
tapa – a Tongan traditional cloth made from the inner bark of a mulberry tree.’

 

Lea Tupu’anga (2024 : 17 mins)

FEATURE FILMS

Red, White and Brass (2023)

Damon Fepulea’i directs a hugely popular and feel good film based on a real event.

Starring:

Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi

John-Paul Foliaki

Lotima Pome’e

Mikey Falesiu

Lupeti Finau

‘Ilaisaane Latu Vaipulu Green

Onetoto Ikavuka

Somewhere in Tonga (2017 : 98 mins)

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Birthright 

Free to view on youtube. (2020 -15 mins) Directed by Maiko Taukafa and Moises Lemus. Explores the life of Kepu who wants to stowaway to support his family. An emotional story that touched many Tongan commentators on  Youtube. For more information click the Facebook page for the film.

A great short film  written and directed by Paul Stoll called ‘TAVAKE’ on the  dilemmas of being a young man.

See also Dot’s Death, a 20min film made by Stan Wolfgramm.

Animation/Creative

You, the choice of my parents.

LDS Supported Films and Documentaries

The church of the Latter Day Saints have had long history of filmmaking in Tonga, producing some of the key documentaries that often feature the Royal Family.

Other Side of Heaven

Kava Kuo Heka

Docu-Soap

Traumfischer: Das Südsee-Abenteuer -4 episode series first screened in 2014 on two families living in Ha’apai.