SIONE'S WEDDING

SYNOPSIS:
Sione's (Pua Magasiva) getting married but his brother Michael (Robbie Magasiva) and his three larrikin mates, Albert (Oscar Kightley), Stanley (Iaheto Ah Hi) and Sefa (Shimpal Lelisi), have been barred from the wedding by the Minister (Nathaniel Lees), after causing drunken havoc at every function they attend. The only way they'll get in is if they go with a genuine girlfriend or someone who really cares for them. Sefa already has a girlfriend, Leilani (Teuila Blakely) but she's just had enough of his immature ways, and the others don't know where to start - but it's a big city, Auckland, full of Polynesian girls.

Review by Andrew L. Urban:
Wedding comedies have a happy tradition, whether fat and Greek or even adjoining a funeral, and Sione's Wedding adds a new ethnic flavour with its Samoan characters living in New Zealand. The film begins with urban streetscapes and American street music by way of hip hop, providing a cultural crossover that is later parlayed into some cross ethnic comedy between silly white guys and the Samoan brotherhood known as the Duckrockers. The ethnic setting is not, however, the driver of the story so much as a natural part of Auckland life. The story is universal, the setting unique; that is a good start.

The story is simple enough, driven by the need of four very boyish young men to start growing up, just enough to attract someone who can see their good side, so they can attend Sione's wedding. This one's special since it's Michael's brother and Michael (Robbie Magasiva) is a Duckrocker.

The likeable larrikinism of the four irresponsible characters is well captured by a keen and capable cast, solidly supported by Teuila Blakely as Leilani, who becomes more and more important to the story. Karena Lyons also shines as Albert's shy office colleague who is waiting for Albert to make a move ...

Infectious humour and a cracking pace make Sione's Wedding a cheerful, earthy and unpretentious movie with a big party spirit.

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CRITICAL COUNT
Favourable: 1
Unfavourable: 0
Mixed: 0

INTERVIEW WITH OSCAR KIGHTLEY & ROBBIE MAGASIVA

SIONE'S WEDDING (M)
(NZ, 2006)

CAST: Oscar Kightley, Iaheto Ah Hi, Shimpal Lelisi, Robbie Magasiva, Teuila Blakely, Madeleine Sami, David Fane, Mary Jane McKibbin-Schwenke, Nathaniel Lees, Ana Tuigamala, Pua Magasiva, David Van Horn, Karena Lyons

PRODUCER: John Barnett, Chloe Smith

DIRECTOR: Chris Graham

SCRIPT: James Griffin, Oscar Kightley

CINEMATOGRAPHER: Aaron Morton

EDITOR: Paul Maxwell

MUSIC: Dawn Raid Entertainment

PRODUCTION DESIGN: Iain Aitken

RUNNING TIME: 97 minutes

AUSTRALIAN DISTRIBUTOR: BVI

AUSTRALIAN RELEASE: July 13, 2006

UPCOMING EVENT
RIVERSIDE SNEAK PEEK PREMIERES
A program of premiere screenings of new movies prior to their commercial release on 4 consecutive Tuesdays - March 10, 17, 24, 31, 2015 - at Riverside Theatre, Parramatta, Sydney.

Curated & presented by Andrew L. Urban, discussion to follow with special guests. Briefing notes provided.