Watch Vai

Vai is a mesmerizing and inspiring film from 2019 that charts the various stages of a young woman's life across eight different Pacific Island cultures. Directed by a collective of female Pasifika filmmakers, Vai captures the essence and spirit of Polynesian storytelling through a series of charming vignettes that offer a window into the rich cultural heritage of the South Pacific.

The film opens with a young Vai, portrayed by Ro Mereani Adi Tuimatanisiga, living in a picturesque Fijian village. The camera follows her as she runs along the sandy beach, collecting shells and playing with her friends. When she returns home, she finds her mother engaged in a heated argument with her father, who is threatening to quit his job and move the family to Suva. As Vai listens in on their conversation, it becomes clear that she is growing up in a world where change and uncertainty are constant themes.

As the story progresses, we see Vai in various stages of her life, moving from one culture to another and encountering different challenges along the way. In one segment, she is a young girl living in Samoa, struggling to come to terms with the weight of her extended family's expectations. In another, she's a teenager living in Tonga and dreaming of one day becoming a professional rugby player. We also see her as a young adult struggling to find her place in the world while living in Auckland, New Zealand.

Along the way, the story shifts to other characters and locations, each offering a unique perspective on the South Pacific's diverse cultural tapestry. We see a young girl in Rarotonga learning the art of traditional storytelling from her grandmother, a Maori woman navigating the challenges of being a single mother in Aotearoa, and a group of women in Kiribati fighting against the impacts of climate change.

The film's power lies in its ability to interweave these diverse narratives into a cohesive and deeply moving whole. As we watch each character's story unfold, we begin to see the common threads that bind them together. The film is a beautiful celebration of the resilience, strength, and beauty of Pacific Island cultures.

The cinematography is stunning, with each segment filmed in a different location, and each shot beautifully framed to capture the essence of each culture. From the lush jungles of Samoa to the bustling city streets of Auckland, the film captures the unique rhythms and textures of each place.

Perhaps the film's most significant strength, however, is the way it humanizes the experiences of Pacific Island people. At a time when many in the West view the South Pacific as a distant and exotic paradise, Vai reminds us that the cultures of these islands are rich, complex, and deeply meaningful. By focusing on the everyday lives of Pacific Island women, the film gives voice to a group that is often overlooked or marginalized in mainstream media.

In the end, Vai is a testament to the power of storytelling. By weaving together a tapestry of tales and characters, the film creates a vibrant and deeply moving portrait of the South Pacific's rich cultural heritage. It's a film that will stay with you long after the credits have rolled, a beautiful and inspiring tribute to the resilience and beauty of Pacific Island culture.

Vai is a 2019 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 30 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.4.