Tongan film hits the right notes - Red, White & Brass Film Review

Red White and Brass follows the mostly true events that happened around the 2011 rugby world cup.

Let’s set the stage ... Tonga plays France in Wellington, a small group of friends fund raise to buy tickets but their dreams of watching their team are dashed when the game is sold out before they can purchase said tickets. Their last hope to see the game is to perform as a marching band during the opening ceremony ... something they have zero talent or knowledge for.

Queue the sun, or in this case, queue the “tingggggg” of a triangle as the idea forms to learn everything from scratch. An almost impossible task for the rag tag ensemble of friends and family led by newcomer to the big screen John Paul Foliaki.

But as we all know, Tongan fans can be the most nationalistic. If there is a chance to raise a flag, they will buy the whole shop and flag making company. A search online will tell you that red and white colors of the Tongan flag have been sold out for the next 20 years. So impossible is only a word.

There is much to like about this film. The story is nuanced and pulls equally at comedy and drama. The core cast are mostly faces of the young wave of Pasifika actors who have carved out their careers in television and theatre over the past 5 years, many via the acclaimed P.I.P.A (Pacific Islands Performing Arts) course - RIP. Some like Dimitrius Kolomotangi is a relative newcomer to film, but in a very short time has accumulated a healthy taro sized chunk of experience.

Red, White & Brass core cast at the Wellington premiere

Red, White & Brass cast at the Auckland premiere

There is something to say about seeing your own people on screen. The Tongan community will be proud of this latest offering. The weaving of the Tongan language into the script serves as one of the film's highlights. It reminds us that all our stories are part of our wider heritage tapestry, and the heart of this is our reo.

Film director Damon Fepuleai does an excellent job of keeping the action ticking over. It’s a ripper of a yarn, and one you should take family out to see. There is a husband and wife who play the parents of John Paul Foliaki’s character, who are absolutely amazing. Most notable mentions go to Hanz Faavae Jackson who continues to win the award of “the guy who should be in Hollywood” and the mention goes to the fact that there is a Tongan producer and co-production house attached to this film.

Writer & Producer Nua Finau with his parents who also played JP Foliaki's on screen parents in 'Red, White & Brass'

Red, White & Brass director Damon Fepulea'i

If anything this is the one reason why our communities should support this movie. As more of our stories make it to the big screen, we should be asking ourselves and demanding that our stories are made for and by our people. If we are to future proof our industry we have to trust that our story tellers, directors, producers and crew are capable of making films on their own terms.

A step that films like Red White and Brass remind us of.

Take your family – Yes

Take you parents -Yes

Take some tissues - yes

8.5/10 coconuts for the film. I gave extra because the parents were awesome.

10/10 crowd experience. In my session the audience were all calling out to the screen..

10/10 Tongan language in film. Herein lies the magic….more of this in Pasifika films please.

Peep some of the action from the premiere and feedback from movie goers in the video below -