Mad Chapman agreed to write a review of Tin\u0101 and found it impossible. Instead she argues with herself about the biggest local film of the year.<\/p>\n
Summer read \u2013 originally published February 27 2025. <\/p>\n
I can\u2019t believe we\u2019re resorting to this format. What\u2019s so hard about writing a review? Lots of other writers have written reviews.<\/p>\n
Reviewing in New Zealand is a fraught exercise. Those reviewing are often practitioners themselves, or know the creatives behind the project. Even so, I\u2019ve reviewed plenty of local films, TV shows and plays, but this one felt different. The only thing more fraught than reviewing in New Zealand is reviewing something from \u201cwithin the community\u201d. Be too glowing and people assume you\u2019re just saying that because of proximity, be too critical and you\u2019re \u201cbringing down your own people\u201d, tall poppy etc.\u00a0<\/p>\n
OK so argument it is. But first let\u2019s get the usual \u201creview\u201d context out of the way. Tin\u0101 is the story of Mareta Percival aka Tin\u0101 (Anapela Polataivao), a grieving mother who begins teaching at a snooty Christchurch private school and starts a choir there.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Set in 2014, three years on from the Christchurch earthquakes (in which Percival loses her only daughter), Tin\u0101 is Percival\u2019s journey of grief, acceptance and generosity. A classic fish-out-of-water tale.<\/p>\n
Anapela Polataivao as Mareta Percival in Tin\u0101 (Image: Supplied)<\/p>\n
And I loved it! Even before I saw it I knew it was right up my alley. Good cast, underdog tale, Samoan hymns. The acting across the board was some of the best I\u2019ve ever seen in a local film. Antonia Robinson as struggling student Sophie was given plenty to work with to show off her range and she delivered. Beulah Koale was the standout of the supporting cast as Percival\u2019s concerned nephew fighting his own demons.<\/p>\n
I agree, and Polataivao was of course the star. But for an actor of her skill, the role was perhaps underutilised. She has such a presence that the writers could have afforded to give her character more edge without losing her humanity. Yes she swears and is snarky and a bit messy but is ultimately a resigned, humble woman. I was waiting to see Polataivao rage out, or turn on some faux charm even just to show off her skills.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The film is very clearly marketed as a wholesome tearjerker and on that it absolutely delivers. Did you cry?<\/p>\n
Yes I did cry.<\/p>\n
Exactly. And did you crack up at the island humour and side-eyes?<\/p>\n
You know I did.<\/p>\n
So what\u2019s so hard about saying that? Review done.<\/p>\n
Because as much as Tin\u0101 was exactly the type of movie I\u2019d typically love, and as much as I did love parts of it, and very much love the fact that it exists, I have many other thoughts about it.<\/p>\n
Sigh\u2026 you\u2019re going to bring up the brown martyr aspect aren\u2019t you.<\/p>\n
Yes! Did you pause at all when you realised this was a Samoan story but only like four of the speaking characters are actually Samoan?\u00a0<\/p>\n
I kind of did, but it\u2019s set in a private school in Christchurch so it would be unrealistic for everyone to be brown. And the whole point of the story is that they are from completely different worlds, which I liked.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Sure, but then is it really a story about a Samoan woman or is it a story about a group of palagi rich kids being taught that poor people and other cultures exist? I couldn\u2019t help but grimace at the martyr storyline of this (literally) poor brown woman being given a job at a private school because she could \u201coffer the kids something different\u201d with zero consideration of what that might take away from her (which is not insignificant). And it\u2019s all a lovely thing, apparently.<\/p>\n
But isn\u2019t that a realistic portrayal of private school administrations? You went to private school and encountered similar expectations so as grating as some of those characters might be, they\u2019re sadly accurate which means you can\u2019t fault the filmmakers for being true to life.<\/p>\n
You\u2019re right that it\u2019s accurate but in Tin\u0101 the character that says that is supposed to be the good guy! He\u2019s the well-meaning character who is ultimately all good. The villain characters are absolutely caricatures, with the evil principal-in-waiting and abusive board chair \u2013 who, by the way, could\u2019ve just been the same character.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Again, sadly these are people who exist in real life. I guarantee there are board members at private schools around the country who say far worse things behind closed doors than the characters in this movie. And the audience in my screening audibly gasped when those characters had their worst moments, so evidently it\u2019s doing something to shock people into remembering this stuff is out there and experienced by Pasifika constantly.<\/p>\n
Is it shocking them or is it making them feel good about the fact that they themselves don\u2019t do that? I would\u2019ve loved to see the \u201cvillains\u201d be a bit more realistic, which is that those same men are often beloved and respected in their own communities, and often for good reason. They can be genuinely lovely and generous and kind, and also racist and narrow-minded.\u00a0<\/p>\n