Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 15, Number 7, 1 July 1998 — REEL STORIES [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

REEL STORIES

By Paula Durbin Reel Stories ," the fifth annual Pacific Images Film Festival, will showcase works by and about the indigenous people of the Paeilie July 16 - Aug. The festival opens with the newly restored 1952 feature film " Damien ," a milestone in film history because, accord-

ing to playwright Victoria Kneuhuhl, it was "the first-ever feamre length film written and directed by a Pācific Islander." The writer-director was her unele, John Kneubuhl, a half-Samoan Yale graduate only 30 when he undertook the project with a mostly loeal cast on location at

Kalaupapa where the finished product eventually premiered. Also the first fea-ture-length production on Father Damien. the fikn was, for years, beheved lost. When a copy tumed up during research for yet another feature on Damien in whieh Robin Wilhams will star (not to be conmsed with the Austrahan " Fcither Damieri ' now being filmed on Moloka'i), the production eompany gave it to Victoria Kneubuhl. "I then gave 'Oamien' over to PIC's care," she

said in an article. "As a community, we are incredibly lucky that this treasure of our film history is still restorable." Aoteraroa's varied offerings, in addition to those on celluloid, include appearances and workshops by "Onee Were Warriors" See STORIES on page 7

John Kneubuhl's recently restored 1950 film "Damien," shot on location at Kalaupapa with a mainly loeal cast, opens the 1998 Pacific lmages Film Festival.

PHOĪO COURTESY PACIFIC ISLANDERS IN COMMUNICATIONS

Maon actress Kena Owen and screenwnter Riwia Brown. " Beth's World a documentary co-written by Owen, and "The Flight of the Albatmss ," a feature written by Brown, will be screened. Heather Giugni and Esther Figueroa, known as Juniroa, have two videos in the festival: " Mo'omomi ," about a Moloka'i community's application of traditional Hawaiian practices to management of coastal resources, and "A Tribute to Dorothy Kahanahui Gillett," profiling the late Hawaiian musical treasure and her legacy. Also on the program are the world premier of Meleanna Meyer's "Ho'oku'ikahi: To Unify

as Onef partially funded by a grant from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs; children's cartoons in 'ōlelo Hawai'i; several videos on Chamom themes and cutting-edge works ffom the Asian-American, Native American, Latino and Black Public Broadcasting Consortia. Films to be screened at the Honolulu Academy of Arts follow: " DamienT ( July 16, 6:30 p.m.) " Flight ofthe AlbatrossT The stoiy of a young Maoii boy who falls in love with a promising German musician and plunges with her into a life and death advenmre. (July 16, 8:30 p.m.) Ho'oku'ikahi: To Unify as One ." A documentaiy relating the war between Ka'ū and Kohala and other historical moments to the

1991 gathering wherepo'eHawai'i reaffumed ancestral ties. (July 17, 6:30 p.m.) "How the Brave 'Opihi Showed His Aioha" A 12-minute children's animaUon from 'Aha Pūnana Leo. (July 17, 6:30 p.m.) "E Ola Ka 'Ōlelo Hawai'i ." 'Aha Pūnana Leo's look at the Hawaiian language movement, directed by Joan Lander and Puhipau who will be at this screening. (July 17, 6:30 p.m.) " Don 't Go Past with Your Nose in the Air." The gentle drama of a teen-aged Maoii and his grandfather produced by Don Selwyn and Ruth Kaupu. (July 17, 8:30 p.m.) " Beth's World." A documentary co-written by Rena Owen who will be at the screening. (July 17, 8:30 p.m.) "The Meal!' KekoaLake's 10-minute short about super chefs enlisted to rescue a

romance. (July 18, 6:30 p.m.) " Eaten Alive Segments ffom television programs in whieh cross-dressing chefs whip up Samoan dishes. (July 18, 6:30 p.m.) "Velvet Dreams" Aotearoa documentary spoofing the portrayal of topless Polynesian women on black velvet. (July 18, 6:30 p.m.) "The Devil Never Sleeps". A thriller based on Latina filmaker Lourdes Portillo's probe of her father's death. (July 1 8, 6:30 p.m.) The Pacific Images Film Festival has scheduled additional screenings at venues across the state. For more information, eall Paeilie Images in Communication on O'ahu at 591-0059. ■

Stories From page 6