Open Looks

Far from their islands in Te Moana-nui-o-Kiva, three sisters are raised by their father in a small village in Aotearoa. Rei, Upokoina and Matilda G share a love of basketball.

After losing, defiant Upokoina challenges her older sister to another game. Rei refuses, storming away, leaving her younger sisters behind on the basketball court.

A cacophony of howling, metal on metal is heard. The sudden death of the eldest sister, takes the younger two to Havaiki Nui – the Underworld – where they’re forced to play ball to return home.

Opens Looks is a short film told in English and Cook Islands Māori. A story of love, redemption and basketball.

With a cast including Evotia-Rose Araiti, Manea Sua, Robert Ringiao Lloyd, Teremoana Yala, Tina McNicholas and introducing Tearii Pilitati-Firmin.

Featuring Cinematography by Tammy Williams, Edited by Alex Boyd, Composed by Karnan Saba with Sound Design by Trent Williams. Open Looks is co-produced by Hone Kouka, Sharlene George and Karin Williams and Line Produced by Mhairead Connor.

Directed by Mīria George,Open Looks is co-written by Hone Kouka and Mīria George, he mea whakamāori e Tupu Araiti me Peter Winchester.

Open Looks is funded by the New Zealand Film Commission’s He Kauahi Catalyst Short Film Fund.

Film Content Advisory: Grief, Basketball

Credits
Writer: Hone Kouka, Mīria George
Producer: Hone Kouka, Sharlene George, Karin Williams
Director of Photography: Tammy Williams
Editor: Alex Boyd
Production Designer: Tony De Goldi
Composer: Karnan Saba
Sound Designer: Trent Williams

Plays in

Pacific Cinewaves: Sites of Memory in Oceania

For this year’s LAAPFF’s Pacific Cinewaves program, we invite you on a journey to witness the cinematic narratives of six Pasifika storytellers as they grapple with themes of family, grief, identity, dispossession and memory.