Humans of the Islands - Vea Mafile'o

"Vea Mafile’o is an artist of Tongan, Māori and Scottish descent who
works primarily in moving image and installation...Mafile’o continues to work as
a filmmaker and is co-founder of the company Malosi Pictures"

Recently, Tongan filmmaker Vea Mafile’o took the Sundance Film Festival by storm with her short film “Lea Tupu’anga / Mother Tongue.” This film was selected out of an outstanding 17,000 applications.

“Lea Tupu’anga / Mother Tongue” follows the journey of a young Tongan speech-language therapist. This unique tale unfolds the dynamic between the therapist, fluent in English only, and her client, who exclusively communicates in Tongan.

Written by Luciane Buchanan and directed by seasoned documentary director Vea Mafile’o, the two reflect on what it means to be Tongan women in the scripted space at Sundance. Mafile’o stated, “It’s pretty overwhelming and a super exciting space to be in… Previous Polynesian NZFC films that have screened here have been by a handful of Māori and Samoan directors. They really have paved the way for Luciane and I. Itʻs cool that us Taʻahine Tonga can add our Tongan film to the mix.”

Scene from Lea Tupu’anga / Mother Tongue

Vea Mafile’o's short film Lea Tupu'anga took out the 'Best Film' award at New Zealand Film Festival 2024 and has been making waves both in Aotearoa and internationally. Vea shared her thoughts on the film's message:

"It's awesome It's being highlighted during Tongan language week! And while it's important to try & learn your language-your mother tongue. You should never feel less than or shamed if you don't. It is too easy for people to measure & judge others lives for not being a certain way or doing all the things you are "supposed" to, thus failing to understand culture because of it. This is a falsehood an old narrative that keeps negative emotions like shame & blame alive. What I am learning and what the film to me is about is that being Tongan is a feeling that cant even be articulated, it comes from deep within the heart & soul, the people you love & the way you show it and that's at the end of the day all that matters."

Lea Tupu’anga / Mother Tongue Poster ft Lucianne Buchanan

Get to know the multitalented ta'ahine below:

What do you love about being Tongan?

What I love about being Tongan is going back home stepping off the airplane feeling the warm air hit me like an oven and feeling at peace like I'm home....Being with my Tongan family, Tongan nuances that make Tongans unique.. I also love that when something emotional moves me, singing in church, a gift, saying a thank you speech, I get this feeling of Mafana, Ī get a warmth that sits in my chest and pours out tears through my eyes. I love the emotions Tongans so freely express.

How is your Tonganness reflected in your artwork?

I think that being a hafikasi I am always in a way looking at my identity. So I feel that a lot of the time I am capturing processes and talking to my elders trying to gather as much information as I can. So maybe it more of my quest about finding what is my 'Tonganness' more than anything....

What is so interesting to you about Tongan society, that u like to capture on film?

Really I'm just nosey, I just like to know why, when, how and what. Because I don't speak the language very well I always feel like this is potentially a barrier so I like to bust down the barriers and find out as much as possible what's going on in Tonga at the moment how are people feeling, what's the general buzz at this point in time. This also transcends to family and friends living in New Zealand as well. But mainly its because I get Fomo.

I have documented some major changes in Tonga from the passing of King Taufa'ahau the 4th, the 16/09 riots that destroyed 80% of the central business district, to the new king's Coronations with interviews from locals during these times, including some who were arrested and beaten during the riots.

Tell us about your next big project?

My next big project is a feature documentary which I have been working on for the last few years funded by the New Zealand Film Commision about my Father Saia Mafile'o called For My Father's Kingdom. It's pretty exciting because it's the first feature documentary made by a Tongan woman.

Driven by a deep faith in God, Tongan pensioner Saia Mafile'o navigates not only the cold dark streets of South Auckland but also his sometimes fraught relationship with his New Zealand born half-caste kids, while desperately trying to hold on to his religious and cultural beliefs.

Watch another video piece by Vea and Emily Mafile'o here - Tongan to the Bone, Otara Cube 2014

Photo credit: Raymond Sagagpolutele