TINĀ means Mother in Samoan.
TINĀ is an apt title for writer and director Mika Magasiva’s feature film, the story of Samoan teacher Mareta Percival.
Struggling after the sudden death of her daughter in the Christchurch earthquakes, Mareta reluctantly takes on the role of substitute teacher at an elite, wealthy private school and is surprised to find children crying out for guidance, inspiration, and love.
Synthesising sympathy and empathy to empower her students, she forms a choir, coalescing a classroom of disparate students into a collaborative colossus.
Mareta meets with systemic racism and “entitled” social status supremacy from certain teachers and the school board, in the struggle to inspire her kids. And there’s a backlash from her own class and culture accusing her of abandoning her mob to join the ranks of the privileged.
A tough love teacher, Mareta’s methods are not all kumbaya and clashes in the classroom and rehearsal hall do erupt, but through patience and tenacity, a genuine journey of healing and understanding and trust surfaces.
None of her students are Samoan, all palagi/pakeha, and so the power of music as a unifying force is elevated and magnified.
Anapela Polataivao brings a quiet majesty in the lead role of Mareta, someone whose spiritual faith has been hammered by the arbitrary annihilation of her daughter but finds fresh hope in helping children achieve their individual potential through a communal enterprise.
Some in society need no miracles to keep our faith in people, they feed it on memories and imaginings, culture and courage. TINĀ illustrates that ideal marvellously through music, a chorus of compassion rising melodiously against the tin ear of stuffy, chauvinist, stifling conservatism.
