Film No. 87. TINA (Perth Film Festival 2024/25) 27th Dec.
Film No. 87 (2024) December 27th. 8:00 PM SOMERVILLE Outdoor U.W.A.
"The person we are after needs to be a little bit more like us." ("Budding" principal Wadsworth begins his relationship with Mareta in an extremely cumbersome manner).
NOMINEE: Most Anticipated Film (Miki Magasiva) Hawaii Film Festival.
Does TINA lose some of its lustre because it is not based on an actual teacher? If, in the back of your mind, Mareta was a real life gifted mentor overcoming multiple adversities ... ready to be Googled, post film; then yes, maybe!
Director Miki Magasiva talked of the influence TO SIR WITH LOVE and DANGEROUS MINDS had on his movie, TINA. Unfortunately TINA can't "hold a note" to these autobiographically inspired stories. Magasiva has created a heartfelt story inspired by choirs, and his love of feel-good stories about people who inspire others to sing. Anapela Polataivao playing Mareta carries the film. The script gives her licence to make us laugh, cry and love. She is our hero but to the detriment of her antagonists. Why do we have to have characters using cliched tropes of the 60's and 70's to sledgehammer us into loving Mareta, and hating them?
The outdoor festival screening I attended had the audience captivated by TINA. The applause and adulation suggested this crowd-pleaser had achieved its gaol. Tina will please many; just not me. 7GUMS.
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