Nafanua

Tommy has received a call from his father with news that his Grandmother has passed away and he must return to Samoa for the funeral. This comes as a rude awakening for Tommy who lives in Sydney’s thriving inner-western suburb where woke millennials discuss complex social and political topics from the comfort of trendy bars and wellness centres while sipping on green smoothies (through paper straws, obviously)

When arriving back to Samoa Tommy is both reconnecting and struggling with some harsh truths about a country and way of life he knew little of. He learns of the harsh realities of climate change in the pacific, of its dark history under New Zealand colonial rule, and of complex relationship the Islands have between Christianity and Fa’a Samoa (the Samoan way). All whilst learning language, how to hold his own in the chaos of a Samoan funeral and also the importance of learning where one comes from.

This project is part of the GENERATE program – a partnership between PACT centre for emerging artists and Crack Festival, supported by Create NSW.