Pacific Showcase Shorts

Last night I saw the Pacific Showcase Shorts. It was pretty good. The theater was the most packed I've ever seen it because the audience consisted of the director, producers, actors and family members.

The first film shown was Blessed Assurance by Kama'aina Creations directed by Aina Paikai. It was a 10-minute film about a day where gasoline mysteriously disappeared. This was filmed in Hawaii on the North Shore with amazing water shots. I thought it portrayed Hawaii very well.

The second film was called Ebony Society. I really liked this film from New Zealand about two teen boys who could be found on the streets tagging and stealing. One night they break into a house to find themselves in an unexpected situation that changes their friendship for the better.

E Ho'omau! The Menehune and the Birds was the next short film shown. It was an animated, 23-minute short produced in collaboration with Kamehameha Schools. It took place on the beach with the aunty telling the little ones of the story of how the menehune respected the birds to teach kolohe Kaimi to also respect the birds. "Little ones working together can accomplish big things," was the lesson taught. It was a great short to show children in Hawaii.

Laura Green, of Fiji, produced a film called Lazy Razorbacks telling the story of a rugby team and their individual struggles. This film was beautifully shot in black and white.

In Lina'la' Lusong, the importance of the lusong was shown through the history and through the chant with a focus on the strength and endurance of the rock. This 5-minute film was produced by the PIC Micronesian Filmmakers' Workshop: Guam.

From the University of Hawaii at Manoa's Academy for Creative Media, Lana Dang produced two films: Huki Ulua and Pa'ahana. Huki Ulua was a comedy depicting just how small the island is while using the classic phrase, "Hook, Line, Sinker." Pa'ahana was inspired by her own family. It's a film about taking care of the land and the important life lessons a father can teach his daughter through the Hawaiian culture.

Lastly from New Zealand, we had two amazing films: Manurewa and The Winter Boy. Manurewa depicts the true story of Navraj Singh, a liquor store owner who is killed by Isaac, a young boy who tries to rob their store with his friends. This film was intense. It was 19 minutes of shaky camera angles so close up you felt like you were right there. Filled with dramatic music and emotion like no other, this movie was a lot for me during the screening. It kept me on the edge of my seat, that's for sure, however I didn't think it really fit with the other films. The Winter Boy was a great ending movie. It was the story of a mother who desperately tries to get her son to talk to her. A trip to the aquarium changes things for them. I must admit throughout this movie I was hoping it would put a smile on my face (especially after the last film) and it did!

There are two more showings of the Pacific Showcase Shorts and I definitely recommend it! I love shorts because it keeps my attention and is kind of like watching a bunch of YouTube videos. I also loved that these films were shot on islands in the Pacific. It made it feel close to home but also let us experience the different cultures of other islands near us. It's definitely worth your time to see.