“Tinā”

By the time co-writer and director Miki Magasiva’s “Tinā” was over, I was left feeling emotionally lighter, inspired, and ready to start a choir myself. This uplifting, heartfelt drama is all about the healing power of music but has a sweet sincerity that’s anchored in themes of grief, resilience, and cultural pride. Everything about this one is well done, making it nearly impossible not to like.

The film follows Mareta Percival (Anapela Polataivao), a Samoan teacher still grieving the loss of her daughter in the Christchurch earthquakes. She reluctantly steps into a substitute teaching role at an elite, predominantly white private school, a place where she sticks out both culturally and socially.

What she finds, though, is that these “privileged” students are in desperate need of some real guidance, encouragement, and a little spark. Mareta gives them that through music, drawing on her Samoan heritage and deep connection to choral traditions to form a choir that soon becomes a source of strength, unity, and healing.

There are definite echoes of “Dead Poets Society” and “Mr. Holland’s Opus” here with familiar themes of an outsider teacher challenging the status quo, inspiring kids, and facing resistance from a rigid institution. But the film has its own fresh angle in the way it celebrates Pacific Islander culture and the powerful role of women within it. Mareta isn’t just a teacher as much as a cultural guardian, carrying the wisdom of her community into a space that often overlooks voices like hers. The tension between privilege, prejudice, tradition, and heritage gives the story extra weight.

The music is the film’s not-so-secret weapon. The choral arrangements are gorgeous, blending traditional songs with contemporary hits in a way that feels both soulful yet crowd pleasing. You can feel the emotional lift every time the choir sings, whether it’s in moments of joy or grief. The musical sequences alone make the film worth watching, especially for anyone who loves music or has ever been part of a choir. Teachers (and music teachers in particular) will probably feel this one right through their soul.

The one downside is that the movie runs a bit too long. There are stretches where the pacing lags and you really start to feel the weight of the runtime. Even when it meanders, the core message of unity and healing is so warm and inspiring that it carries you through.

Through its story of giving a voice to people who might otherwise go unheard, “Tinā” is a heartfelt celebration of Pacific Islander identity, female leadership, and the resilience of communities that find strength in song. It may sometimes leave you in tears, but it’s a beautiful, uplifting experience to watch.

By: Louisa Moore