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Nabeelah Khan

Day One Shorts: Aotearoa Cinema & The Next Generation [Web Exclusive]

WEB EXCLUSIVE | ENTERTAINMENT

Written by Nabeelah Khan (she/her) | @nabeelahkhann | Contributing Writer

Foreword by Thomas Giblin (he/him) | @thegreengiblin | Entertainment Editor



This year, once again, Day One Shorts, the “film project for young people”, is set to release an exciting collection of eight funded short films created by new and emerging rangatahi filmmakers from across Aotearoa. These films, which transcend cinematic boundaries, shine a spotlight on pertinent cultural, social, and political issues. These issues specific to Aotearoa and the world make any of these films a must-watch. Not one film runs longer than 14 minutes—you can’t say you don’t have time to hunch over a laptop or melt into a sofa and watch one or all of these films.


Yeah Pare

Director: Sean Dioneda Rivera and Albert Latailakepa

Yeah, Pare opens with a scene that is familiar to many. Being in a crowded public place, yet absorbed in your phone, oblivious to the world. In the case of Janjan, a young Filipino boy, he's absorbed in his Gameboy. Amid the hustle of a bustling night market, Janjan loses sight of his mum, sending him into a panic. The film transports audiences back to a time when the world felt big and scary. Danger seemingly lurked around every corner. 


The film amalgamates reality with animation, cutting to and from the actors to a pixelated game-like adventure. A playful nod that will resonate with those who grew up during the golden age of handheld gaming. Beyond the dazzling visuals and imaginative sequences, Yeah Pare taps into the boundless imagination of boyhood. In this world, the ordinary becomes extraordinary. Even the simplest connection can feel like a superpower. The magic of Janjan and Junior’s journey isn’t found in the technicolour pixels they’re seemingly playing with. Instead, it’s the friendship they form along the way.


Detangling The Stigma

Director: Jzayla Hughey

This documentary delves into the difficulties faced by the Afro community in Aotearoa, from finding jobs to attending schools, all while navigating a society that often pressures them to conform to Eurocentric beauty standards. Detangling The Stigma is a powerful and visually captivating documentary that sheds light on the challenges faced by those with Afro-textured hair in Aotearoa.


Director Jzayla Hughey uses the medium to address the profound impact that hiding one’s natural self can have on an individual. Through heartfelt interviews, Detangling The Stigma captures the trials and triumphs of individuals on their journey toward hair acceptance. The documentary’s cinematography is notable for its soft lightness, adding a dreamlike quality to the narrative.


Sua: Portrait of a Retired Bus Driver

Director: Robert Norman

Sua: Portrait of a Retired Bus Driver follows the life of Sua, a retired Samoan immigrant who spent his career driving buses through the winding streets of Tāmaki Makaurau. Sua’s face may show the wear of time, but there’s a youthful playfulness behind his gaze. The camera captures Sua with striking, tightly framed close-ups of his face—a weathered yet expressive canvas that tells the story of a lifetime spent balancing two cultures. The film explores the cultural differences between driving buses in Samoa and Aotearoa, resonating with many immigrants who find themselves comparing their new life in Aotearoa to the one they left behind. Sua reflects, “Time doesn’t rule in Samoa—it’s up to you. In New Zealand, time rules.”


The film interweaves archival footage of Sua’s Samoan village, bringing his past into conversation with his present. His dedication shines through—whether it’s in his driving, his devotion to his church, or his unwavering connection to his homeland. “My land, my people, my family…never forget,” he says—a poignant reminder of the values that guide him.



Wilbert Wire

Director: Ricky Townsend

A robot art student, marginalised by his human teacher and classmates, is challenged to create a painting about love. Wilbert Wire is a charming exploration of emotion and neurodivergence, wrapped in the unique perspective of a robot navigating the complexities of human feelings. The film cleverly contrasts Wilbert’s thought process with his peers, emphasising the diverse ways in which people perceive and express themselves.


Wilbert, brilliantly portrayed by Josiah Morgan, transitions from thinking with his head to embracing his heart, the film’s colour grading shifts from cool metallic tones to warmer hues. This visual change represents his journey toward imagination and emotion. Wilbert Wire’s imaginative themes remain grounded in the real-world setting of an art studio, letting the protagonist’s emotional journey take centre stage without depending on a superfluous amount of visual effects. The film is an ingenious celebration of neurodivergence and the beauty of nonconforming thought.


Lemons

Director: India Fremaux

Lemons offers a sincere exploration of loss and identity. It takes viewers on an emotional journey through the eyes of a young Māori woman grappling with the loss of her estranged birth mother. The woman struggles to understand the tikanga, connected to her mother’s ashes. This exploration is a poignant and nuanced reflection of her deep yearning to connect with her cultural roots and the mother she never truly knew. The film portrays the complexity of grief with a lost identity. The film’s title, Lemons, alludes to the adage, “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.” Like lemonade, the protagonist’s journey through the grieving process is bittersweet.


Behind The White Wall

Director: Seunghoon Sung

This powerful short film sheds light on the nuanced struggles of a Korean immigrant father in Aotearoa. Behind The White Wall delves into themes of mentorship, fatherhood, and the loneliness that often accompanies the immigrant experience. The protagonist, a construction painter, finds himself torn between his responsibilities at work and the melancholia that comes with being separated from his wife and child, who remain back in Korea. A powerful, heart-aching scene occurs in the quiet intimacy of the protagonist’s small kitchen. As he shares a meal over FaceTime with his wife, the camera quietly lingers in the living room, drawing attention to the beloved family portrait. This delicate shift in focus highlights the distance and longing that defines his life in Aotearoa.


Taurewarewa

Director: Libby Witheford-Smith

Taurewarewa is a documentary that delves into the complex world of bipolar disorder. The film uses the power and beauty of Aotearoa’s ocean as a striking metaphor for the emotional highs and lows experienced by those living with this condition. Taurewarewa opens with a serene sequence of slow, steady ocean shots. The waves lap gently against the rocks, evoking a sense of calm that contrasts sharply with the turbulence soon to be explored. The title itself, Taurewarewa, encapsulates the essence of the film—it refers to the momentum of a wave just before it breaks, symbolising the intense, fluctuating nature of bipolar disorder.


Three subjects—Ruby, Ayesha, and Libby, candidly share their journeys with bipolar disorder. They shed light on their struggles, the stigmas they face, and the misconceptions surrounding the condition. The documentary becomes not just a platform for these women to share their experiences but also a powerful call to action for broader societal change. The words “This film is a message of hope” appear in white on the screen before the documentary even begins, framing the entire narrative as one of resilience.


Holy Ghost

Director: Hannah Lynch

Holy Ghost is a gripping thriller that navigates the complexities of a queer relationship unravelling as one woman, Anna, spirals into psychosis. The film delves into the blurred lines between reality and the divine, exploring how faith and mental illness intertwine in a life on the edge. Holy Ghost presents a world bathed in soft hues and pastel colours, reflecting a sense of calm and stability. However, as Anna’s mental state deteriorates, this serene palette gives way to stark black-and-white scenes, creating a jarring contrast that mirrors her descent into chaos.


The shift in visuals serves as a powerful metaphor for the disintegration of her reality, pulling the viewer deeper into her troubled mind. Religious themes are woven throughout the narrative, with discussions of faith and God playing a crucial role in Anna’s journey. The film tackles the often-taboo topic of growing up queer in a religious environment. Holy Ghost is a bewitching watch.


The eight films from Day One Shorts 2024 will all be released online, free to view on Wednesday, the 4th of September, on the Day One website, as well as Whakaata Maori and RNZ online.


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