Okalani Film Festival

For My Father’s Kingdom 2019
Directed by Vea Mafile’o, Jeremiah Tauamiti
97 minutes
In English and Tonga, with English subtitles

This film premiered at the NZ International and Berlin Film Festivals just last year and was the first Pasifika feature film to attached NZ Film Commission funding. This intimate, clear-eyed documentary is centred on the faith, love and fatherhood of Saia Mafile’o, and his four children. It paints an insightful portrait of Tongan culture and is presented as a free community screening at Te Oro and Māngere Arts Centre as part of Tongan Language Week.

Having grown up straddling dual worlds, Saia’s adult children struggle with their father’s persistence in Tongan ways of life – that is, until a family trip to Tonga. Saia takes them to an epic school reunion at the prestigious Tupou College, Toloa where he was head prefect. The family witnesses Tongan tradition, faith and feasting and the result film puts the emotion of this moving story about generational difference on show. “The heart of this film has always been about a father and his goal of being there for his family… Vea’s father tried to do what we all try to do as parents; and what we all want as children – to love or be loved with no barriers.” — Vea Mafile’o & Jeremiah Tauamiti.