Tony Fuemana films 'My Lost Kainga' in Tonga [1]
Tuesday, October 7, 2008 - 19:32. Updated on Tuesday, September 10, 2013 - 18:57.
'My Lost Kainga' is the title of a Tongan movie currently being shot in Nuku'alofa starring Caroline Makakaufaki and aimed at conveying to youths the importance of staying in touch with your roots and culture.
Directed by Tony Fuemana, a Niuean who runs Urban Pasifika Records Ltd. in New Zealand, the movie, which mixes Tongan and English will be released locally in December.
Tony said today that they had shot the film in Nuku'alofa and around Tongatapu and would wrap up on October 16 for review before its release at the end of the year.
He said the movie is basically about the main character Mia (25) played Caroline. She was born in Tonga but raised in Australia and because she had a western upbringing she does not identify with her language, culture and heritage.
Suddenly she was told by her grandmother to return to Tonga, and she did, not as a Tongan but as a palangi and her journey in rediscovering her Tongan identity is what the movie is about. The main character speaks English but the film is predominantly in the Tongan language.
"I wanted to do this movie and convey the storyline because this is an important issue for young Pacific Islanders who are raised overseas, to never loose touch of their culture and heritage," said Tony.
Raised in Australia
Caroline, who in real life is a performer with her own dance group 'Pollywood Dhamakas' in Sydney, said she could relate to her role because like her character she too was raised in Australia.
"Although it is good to have a western upbringing it is also important to be proud of who you are and where you come from," she said.
The movie is privately financed by Tony and some of his friends in New Zealand.