The Wind & the Reckoning

This is a true story of real Hawaii in 1893 when the Queen and Kingdom of Hawaii was overthrown by businessmen. A beautiful story told in the wife's poetry! A family on the run from a Goverment quarantine during a Leprosy pandemic.

I think this is the first film to ever be shot in the whole native Hawaiian language "Olelo Hawaii". It's beautiful.

What I love about this film is that it shows the love, sacrifice, and fight of a family to not be separated by this disease, while still trying to not hate its oppressor. A lot of life lessons to take from this beautiful bio-pic.

Mahalo to all the film makers for telling a Hawaiian story that isn't Hollywoods version of Hawaii.

I watched this film at Hawaii International Film Festival and I was blown away, not only from the movie itself, but with the amazing cast and crew that dedicated so much time to this project and made this on a limited budget. The storytelling was authentic, the cinematography was stunning, and the delivery from the actors performing the poetic 'Olelo Hawai'i (aka Native Hawaiian language. IMDB cannot display the okina and kahako....) was one of the most authentic portrayals of Hawaiian history I have ever seen in cinema. This is based on the true memoir written by Pi'ilani, and some quotes were directly from her storytelling. The world needs to know what really happened to Hawai'i in the 19th century after the overthrow of the Hawaiian government.

Wow...just wow! What an incredible film. And beautifully shot as well. Jason Scott Lee and Lindsay Watson gave such powerful performances and Henry Ian Cusick was outstanding. I saw the film in Honolulu at The Consolidated Ward Theater during its opening week. Some of the actors were there to answer when it finished. When the movie ended, there was a group in the audience that actually stood up and sang a sort of a chant back to the filmmakers, like they were thanking them for making this film. I was speechless. I have to say I am a bit embarrassed that I had no idea this had happened to the Hawaiians.

The Wind & The Reckoning is the best movie made in Hawaii. It premiered on November 4 at the Bishop Museum as the opening Film of the 42nd Annual Hawaii International Film Festival where it received The Made In Hawaii Award For Feature Film. In The Boston Film Festival it took eight awards Including Best Film, Best Screenplay (John Fusco), Best Director (David L. Cunningham), Best Actress (Lindsay Anuhea Watson), Best Cinematography (Scott Lee Mason), Best Story/Best Editing (Kyle Gilbertson), and Best Ensemble Cast. Why it has not been reviewed by any major critics Is a total travesty and a mystery.

It Has a legendary story brought to life, in action, drama, and romance while exploring the plight of the native Hawaiians at the time of the overthrow in 1893 and the cruel roundup of those afflicted by leprosy by unscrupulous bounty hunters

This film tells the story of one of Hawaiis most legendary heroes, Koolau, (the powerful Jason Scott Lee) a late 19th century paniolo (cowboy) whose life on Kauai is upended by the requirement from the coup leaders that all persons with leprosy must be quarantined in Kalaupapa on the Island of Molokai. He decides to resist and plans to escape into the hills and lava tubes. That night, he and his son Kalei (in an extraordinary debut by Kahiau Perreira) are captured and when his employer, Eben Sinclair (the sympathetic Patrick Gilbert) intervenes, a struggle ensues and Koolau kills a deputy sheriff. He flees with his family into the mountains of Kauai and is pursued by the U. S. Army led by Capt. McCabe (the homicidal Henry Ian Cusick) as well as Marshall Hamilton (Jonathan Schaech).

As Koolau, Jason Scott Lee turns in the performance of his career. He is dignified, a loving husband and father, a well thought of employee and a fierce warrior. His calm demeanor is contrasted with his fierce defense of his family and freedom. It is an Oscar worthy performance.

Equally excellent is Lindsay Anuhea Watson as Piilani. Ms Watson, who is a native of Kula, Maui, has only done two films and has one in the can, but her on screen persona is magnetic and her wonder woman warrior is like the mother lion defending her cubs; you would not want to mess with her.

It is a great story, sumptuously told in beautiful cinematography by newcomer Scott Lee Mason, the drone shots are so well done and the action sequences make the audience feel the danger and violence. It has Oscar worthy performances across the board, Jason Scott Lee as magnificent, Koolau, Lindsay Anuhea Watson as the gorgeous, powerful Piilani and a supporting one for Henry Ian Cusick as the angry, drunkard Capt. McCabe. If this movie is not playing where you are, ask your local cinema to get it. It is A REAL SLEEPER. The best film made in Hawaii to date.

PS they do not allow apostrophes or okinas.

Based on one of the most interesting stories in Hawaiian history! It's portrayed so beautifully and I love that it's spoken in 'olelo Hawaii (the Hawaiian language). Don't be afraid of the subtitles 🤙

I've read Ko'olau's wife Pi'ilani's book and I thought the heart of it was brought to life so honestly and vividly by the filmmakers.

My 8 and 11 year old kids enjoyed the film too; it wasn't too scary for them and they related to the boy in the story.

I live on Kaua'i, so I can tell it was not filmed in the actual locations; aside from establishing shots. What would have made it better for me would be to have seen the actual places where the events took place. Kalalau beach and valley is majestic in real life (though I'm sure it looks different now than it did in Ko'olau's time) and but also so very remote and protected I'm sure it would be nearly impossible to film out there with full cast & crew.

The filmmakers did a great job with the essence of the story and telling it in a way that can make Hawaii proud.