Wanted something light and fun, I have decided to take my Movie Review Squad to watch Sione’s Wedding – a box office hit in New Zealand. Being totally ignorance on the New Zealand culture, please do forgive me if I make any cultural mistakes here. At first I thought the characters are Māori. Then I read some articles that referred them as Samoans. I think I better stick to what the official movie website refers them as the Polynesian (that includes Tongans, Samoans, Niueans, Cook Islanders, Tahitians, Hawaiians, Marquesans and Māori), the indigenous peoples of parts of Southeast Asia. (I watch Survivor Cook Island and didn’t know that Cook Islanders exist!).
Coming from someone who has no clue about what Polynesian Culture is about, I find Sione’s Wedding refreshing. It’s a movie about four men’s journey in finding love … with a time factor. I think if I was from New Zealand, I would have been able to appreciate the comedy better. (I tried my best not to out-laugh the Western couple next to me for they may come from New Zealand and find it odd that I laughed at something that was not funny.) Nevertheless, the script is tastefully done. Sione’s Wedding won’t make you laugh till your back cracks from beginning to end. But it does have heartwarming moments that keep you entertained throughout.
Related Readings: Sione’s Wedding Official Website, Polynesian Culture at Wikipedia.