MILK & HONEY
A chance meeting between two Samoan immigrants forces them to contemplate their future in the land of milk and honey.
A young Samoan immigrant’s desire to provide a better life for her family sees her embrace New Zealand as home.
As Tailoto anticipates the arrival of her baby, events take place that will change her forever. It is the 1970s and race relations in Aotearoa New Zealand are at an all time low. Pacific Islanders are terrorised during dawn raids, arrested as suspected overstayers and threatened with deportation within days if they cannot produce the required documentation.
With limited English and unable to produce her passport, which is with Immigration, Tailoto tries to persuade Samoan Constable Salevao, to help her. As a heavily pregnant Tailoto contemplates her future, Salevao must consider his own in the land of milk and honey.
Genre: Drama (Short)
Released February 2012
Aspect Ratio: 1:1:85 (Colour)
Language: English, Samoan
(With English subtitles)
Duration: 14:26
Writer / Director: Marina Alofagia McCartney
Producers: Marina Alofagia McCartney, Angela Hicks
Executive Producer: Marina Alofagia McCartney
Director of Photography: Andrew McGeorge (NZCS)
Editor: Marina Alofagia McCartney
Production Designer: John Ioane
Costume Design: Charlotte Turner, Celia Walshe
Sound Design: Kahra Scott-James
Made in association with:
University of Auckland
PIPEF Post Graduate Scholarship
McCartney Productions Limited
Featuring:
Nora Aati
Hans Masoe
Will Wallace
Robbie Magasiva
Yvonne Taufa
Awards / Nominations:
2015
Official Selection, 3rd Long Night of Film Festivals, Berlin
2014
Official Selection, Down Under Berlin, Germany
Official Selection, Nepal International Indigenous Festival, Nepal
Official Selection, Reel Brazil Film Festival, New Zealand
2013
Official Selection, ImagiNATIVE, Canada
In Competition, Bangkok International Student Film Festival, Thailand - FINALIST
Official Selection, Pasifika Film & Arts Festival, Australia
Official Selection, PACITA Film Showcase, Hawaii, U.S.A.
Official Selection, UniShorts Student Film Festival, Auckland, New Zealand RUNNER UP - Overall Film & Audience Award
2012
Official Selection, Foyle International Film Festival, Ireland - FINALIST - Light in Motion Award
Official Selection, Ten2012 Pollywood Film Festival, Auckland, New Zealand
In Competition, Script Writers Awards New Zealand - TOP 3 - New Zealand Short Film Script
Official Selection, Palm Springs International ShortFest, Palm Springs, U.S.A.
In Competition, New Zealand International Film Festival “Best of” - TOP 6 - New Zealand Short Films
Official Selection, Wairoa Maori Film Festival, Wairoa, New Zealand