Red, White and Brass

Just streamed this on Apple and it was such a pleasure. NZ is home to a multicultural melting pot including wonderful communities such as the Tongans. It's great to see such a film that celebrates their individuality and culture.

Lovely to see my hometown Poneke on a good day, and makes such a glorious backdrop to a proudly local production.

If you want to learn more about Kiwi diversity and how the kingdom of Tonga are proud members of our Pasfika culture and also demonstrates their passion for rugby, win, lose or draw.

Lovely cameos from Suzy Cato and Karen O'Leary, makes everyone's hearts sing but particularly the brass band!

I came across this film on a flight from Manchester to Addis the other day.

It made an onerous, exhausting flight asheer delight.

I was totally immersed in the characters, story and utterly beguiled by the setting. Furthermore, as a previous reviewer commented, devoid of nudity, profanity and gratuitous violence, it's a must for all the family

The manner in which the film depicts the Tongan diaspora was both enlightening and uplifting Living in the global north it provided an open wimdow to another world.

Add the music, the moves, the irrepressible Island humour and you got a winner! Highly recommended.

Recently, I had the opportunity to watch the captivating and entertaining movie at the cinema, and it proved to be a truly entertaining and heartwarming experience. The movie tells a relatable story that brought me back to my own upbringing as a Pacific Islander in a European country, a narrative that resonated deeply with my personal experiences.

One of the most striking aspects is the humorous and positive attitude that Pacific Islanders possess. This shared sense of humor and optimism is a key component of our culture, and the movie does an excellent job of highlighting how these qualities help us to overcome adversity.

A good clean movie with many locals in roles in the band and in the organisation of the same, the film is one of those heart-warmers that does not offend and has some top humour on display.

No sex, nudity or profanity spoils this film which is the opening match of the 2011 Rugby World Cup between Tonga and France.

If you or your family are rugby fans - and love a laugh - this one is for you.

Interestingly, the REAL band that pulled off the stunt off; of essentially conning the World Cup organisers to allow a "professed Tongan brass band" of absolute amateurs to entertain the rugby-mad spectators in exchange for seats at the game can be seen on Youtube after a search.

Great stuff.

This is by far the best Pacific Islander (actors) movie I have seen. I love the inclusion of so many Pacifika people. The humour was top notch - islander humour, of course!

I mean, I might be biased with this review, as I'm for (Samoan), but I laughed from the start to finish and that is a feat in itself!! I loved it and so did my children - a perfect movie for the family!!!!

The writing and execution was professional and, in my books, have earned the right to be in the same conversation as those Hollywood-made movies, if not BETTER!

I hope this movie has received the attention and appreciation it deserves!