KÜĪ

KÜI is the protector. At 12 years old she’s learned to walk a fine line to protect her three younger brothers from the harsh reality of their absent mother and struggling father, and her father from himself. As all their schoolmates are whisked home from the school gate to warm food and nurturing, KÜI is forced to pretend their father is in a car nearby to ensure the school is unaware of the lack of parenting. Hungry, and unable to even catch a bus, she guides them on the long journey home on foot. As they near home, KÜI recognises their father’s car in an unfamiliar driveway. With a mixture of dread and hope she investigates. To KÜI’s horror, MERA reveals his undying love for their mother as he jumps off from the roof of the garage… and comedically, lands on the trampoline below. The soft landing does little to jar MERA into sobriety, and he drives them home, weaving and nodding behind the wheel, while KÜĪ literally steers them to safety. The ache in MERA’s heart is his children, whose picture he carries in his pocket, and after feeding her brothers their leftover pasta, she comforts her emotional father. KÜĪ is left, holding her mothers shoes symbolising acceptance of her circumstances and determination to rise above them.

Film Content Advisory: Alcohol, Drunk Driving, Suicide

Credits
Writer: Carrisse Uta’i
Producer: Carrisse Uta’i
Executive Producer: Abba-Rose Vaiaoga Ioasa
Director of Photography: Abba-Rose Vaiaoga Ioasa
Editor: Abba-Rose Vaiaoga Ioasa
Production Designer: Kahu Kaiha
Composer: Andrew Faleatua
Sound Designer: Shamir Rodriguez
Music: Tekuhei Kaiha

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.