‘Tinā’ – Review
There is an incredible buzz building with writer/director Miki Magasiva’s Tinā, and for good reason, as this is an incredibly powerful and compelling tale of love, strength, family, community and the power of music to heal, and audiences who witness this beautiful story will feel their hearts beat faster.
Mareta Percival (Anapela Polataivao), struggling after the death of her daughter in the Christchurch earthquakes, Mareta reluctantly takes on a role as a substitute teacher at an elite private school and is surprised to find children in desperate need of guidance, inspiration, and love.
Filmmaker Miki Magasiva draws deep to deliver what is undoubtedly one of the finest New Zealand films to be released in recent years with Tinā, and this story of a teacher and mother who finds a new purpose in her life and ignites a passion in her students will leave you with all the feels, and you’ll be hard pressed to not wipe the tears away. Drawing upon his Samoan heritage and looking for a new landscape to explore narratively, Tinā takes the mentor-mentee story and finds a new expression of this classic story with its focus on the blending of culture and the goodwill that grows from it.
Set following the aftermath of the devastating Christchurch earthquake, Mareta Percival, a noted teacher and beacon of the Samoan community in Christchurch, takes a job at the prestigious prep school St. Francis, and a clash of cultures is imminent as she steps into this rigid and strict system. But upon a chance meeting with wayward and troubled student Sophie (Antonia Robinson), Mareta ignites a journey and passion among her students that leads them to new discoveries and a beautiful journey of redemption and self-love.
Magasiva’s Tinā is best enjoyed in its entirety, and I am wary of revealing any type of spoilers, but it’s clear from his attention and devotion to this story that he has a true visionary voice for drama, and Tinā is not the film you may have expected. An emotional rollercoaster awaits audiences with this powerful and poignant picture, as Anapela Polataivao’s Mareta goes on an incredible journey of self-discovery as she is drawn into the lives of her prestigious yet conflicted students and develops in them a passion for the art of song and choir.
Magasiva balances both the heavy dramatic notes with some cracking comedic elements, and the results make for a cinematic treat that hits all of your buttons as an audience member. Magasiva has talked about how he wanted this film to give audiences a feeling of ‘laugh, laugh, cry’, and that’s exactly what he delivers with his use of drama and comedy within this picture. Moment by moment, Magasiva pulls you deeper into this beautifully rendered story, and by the time the curtain draws near and its powerful final note is played, you won’t be able to stop the tears.
Tinā’s emotional weight is delivered to audiences by two incredible performances from stars Anapela Polataivao and Antonia Robinson as Mareta and her student Sophie, and their shared sense of chemistry and connection is beautiful to witness together. As Mareta, a still grieving mother who finds herself in an unlikely position and with a new chance at happiness, Anapela Polataivao delivers an incredible gamut of emotional range, and she builds a beautiful sense of compassion and empathy with the story that audiences will feel deeply connected with.
Joining Polataivao is Antonia Robinson as Sophie, an embittered and lonely teenager with a painful secret who is desperate for connection and love. Robinson pours her heart into Sophie, and through the narrative tribulations of the picture, we see her blossom in the most profound way. These two actresses make each other’s performances complete with their shared dynamic of a found ‘mother and daughter’, and the strength and union of their bond is revealed in an incredible revelation in the film’s third act that will make you well up with emotion as the full circle of their dramatic union together is revealed.
The experience of Tinā is one of music, culture and community, and Magasiva crafts a film that celebrates the entire plethora of Aotearoa New Zealand as he joins his native Samoan tradition onto a largely Pākehā focused cast and showcases how the power of music and song can bring people together and heal in the most profound way. Celebrated choirmaster Igelese Ete brings together a collection of both traditional Samoan gospel music and well-known New Zealand songs to help deliver on the film’s universal exploration of culture and community but also to help build connection at the core of the film’s narrative, as its young cast of characters soon grow attached to the Samoan culture. The film’s use of music is also an important element in defining the character of Mareta and her connection to both Sophie and her daughter, and this is a crucial component of the heart that the film expresses.
Tinā’s core theme is that of the archetype of the mother and an exploration of motherhood, and in this, Miki Magasiva delivers completely. This film is a celebration of the resilience, wisdom and love that lies at the heart of the Samoan mother, along with the strength and compassion that the mothers in our lives give us. Whether they be our own biological mothers or the mother figures that come into our lives, Tinā celebrates this force of warmth and empathy, and as we watch Mareta’s paternal instincts rekindle as she ignites new passions in her students, audiences will feel an immense sense of joy and ease.
Tinā is an undeniably special film of heart and feeling drawn together that celebrates the connection of cultures in Aotearoa New Zealand, the cherishment of our mothers and the healing power of song. All parties involved in this production deliver on its promise with pure love, and its heavy emotions and beautiful narrative will touch your heart in the most profound way.
Image: MadMan Films
