ABOUT THE PROJECT

LOGLINE
When Lupesina answers the call of her ancestors, she must prove her worthiness as a Samoan woman or stay stuck in the inbetween.

SYNOPSIS
THE RETURN explores the experience of a NZ-born Samoan/Palagi (European) woman Lupesina who is forced to explore in death what she wasn’t able to in life. In order to enter Le Fafā, the gateway to the Samoan Elysium, Pulotu, our hero Sina must find her way through the maze that is identity to prove her worthiness.

When she is challenged because of her lack of Samoanness, her spirit confronts her Mother, who she blames for leaving her unprepared for this next chapter of her life. As she attempts to continue her journey, she must learn to accept herself as she is or risk being stuck in the inbetweeness forever.

THE RETURN explores the shedding of colonial constructions of the diasporic born, non-Samoan speaking, Samoan self; constructions which our own people have accepted as cultural truths.

While Lupesina’s want is to gain access to Le Fafā, her need is to balance the vā* within, bringing together mind, body and soul in harmony.

Therefore, the directorial approach utilises vā to underpin the visual storytelling and explore themes of alienation, isolation, disconnection and connection from culture and oneself.

THE RETURN is unique as it is a story about a New Zealand-born Samoan woman’s identity journey, played by an all Samoan female cast and written and directed by a diasporic Samoan woman.

*The Moana concept of vā is described as “the space between, the betweenness, not empty space, not space that separates but space that relates, that holds separate entities and things together in the Unity-that-is-All, the space that is context, giving meaning to things”. (Wendt, 1999, p.402).

PROJECT TYPE Narrative Short

DIRECTOR Marina Alofagia McCartney
SCREENWRITER Marina Alofagia McCartney
PRODUCER Alex Lovell, Eldon Booth
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER Marina Alofagia McCartney