Seen at...
Kumu Hina
- Director: Dean Hamer; Joe Wilson
- Writer: Leo Anderson Akana; Dean Hamer
- Producer: Connie Florez; Dean Hamer
CGiii Comment
A fascinating and cursory look into a moribund culture...
A native Hawaiian ma¯hu¯ (transgender) schoolteacher...makes it her life's work to preserve the cultural identity of her people...ancient customs are transferred to the younger generation through education and performance...but, how ancient, how authentic are these customs?
A question that is never asked...so, for all we know, these could be manufactured...tourists like a bit of culture!
Rather than questioning, the filmmaker observes...from the rehearsal room for the end-of-term show to her personal life...she has found love with a rather unsavoury fellow. You can almost hear 'Green Card' being bellowed in the distance.
It's not exactly the most probing of documentaries...the trans-aspect is no different from the majority of other trans-stories, the cultural aspect needed more investigation and explanation...but, it does throw-up a sequel....the girl in the middle...
Interesting...could have delved deeper.
Trailer...
The(ir) Blurb...
A transgender Native Hawaiian teacher inspires a young girl to fulfill her destiny of leading the school's male hula troupe, even as she struggles to find love and a committed relationship in her own life.
Cast & Characters
Leo Anderson Akana;
Hinaleimoana Wong-Kalu as Herself;
Ho'Onani Kamai as Himself;
Haemaccelo Kalu as Himself