May 10, 2023
Short film challenges colonial mindset
A Māori short film is a surprise hit at the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival, sparking discussions on the indigenous experience.
Screenwriter and producer Matilda Poasa drew on her own experience for 2019’s The Retrieval, which tells the story of man getting back a taonga owned by his kuia.
Speaking from the festival, director Aree Kapa says having a sold out film was a scary and nerve racking experience, and led to a lively question and answer session.
“The message I said about our film is ‘is it really stealing if it was already yours?’ Because that can translate to land, to language, to all these things that us Maori and Indigenous peoples have experienced with colonisation,” Ms Kapa says.
The Retrieval will also screen at the Seattle International Film Festival next week.