Say Something - Breaking Silence

PG (Parental Guidance Recommended for Younger Viewers)

Domestic abuse affects many families in Pacific communities in New Zealand.  But finding people to speak to about it was tougher than Simonne expected.  Abuse is shrouded in secrecy and shame and people rarely speak publicly about it.  So, when Simonne discovered a video called Say Something, which dramatised domestic violence in a Pacific family, she went to visit the actors.

Samoan New Zealanders Landa, her husband Ace and their 19 year old son Lavahki participated in the Say Something video.  The video was produced by Pacifica Proud, a Ministry of Social Development initiative to curb domestic abuse in Pacific communities.  Once released on social media last year the video touched a nerve.  It’s been viewed over 220,000 times without any promotion and Lavahki and Ace have been inundated with messages.  Many of these were to thank them for creating space for Pacifica to speak out about their own experiences of abuse.

But it turns out that not only had domestic abuse occurred in the past within the actors’ family but making the video had re-triggered some of the issues they thought they’d all put to rest.  Ace was forced to confront his verbally aggressive behaviour towards his wife and the physical abuse he’d dealt out to his son.

This was part of the reason why Lavahki tried to commit suicide a few years ago.  But, after dealing with these issues, the family say they have become more resilient and emotionally stronger.  The change, says Ace, was due not only to the video but also to his embracing his faith and becoming more involved in his church.