Oh Tino!

"O Tamaiti"

Directed by Sima Urale

Recently I watched the short film 'O Tamaiti' directed by New Zealands own Sima Urale, who just so happens to be the sister of the rapper 'King Kapisi'.

O Tamaiti AKA The Children is a short film about Samoan life through Tinos eyes, who is the eldest of five children.

O Tamaiti opens with a birth of another child, which is when we are introduced to Tino and his family, and realise this film is going to be dramatic and heart wrenching.

I couldn't help but notice how all adult figures in the film were shot without a head. This to me was really rather strange, not only did it cause you to be more intrigued as to whether you would actually ever see the face of the parents or any other adult for that matter, but it highlighted just how much responsibility was placed on Tino, as the eldest of five children

What is interesting about 'O Tamaiti', is that there is not one English spoken word throughout the entire film, everyday noises such as a comb through hair, the rustling of blankets and a babies cry have all be brought to the surface, which plays up your aural sense making you more aware of what is around Tino.

The film is all in black and white, which makes this Samoan life seem very simple and plain. Being in black and white, it allows us to see all that is going on around them, highlighting any major events throughout their day. It also allows us to get rid of any stereotypical thoughts we may have had about samoan culture, for example the colourful Lava lavas they traditionally wear, which are often hung up as art works in rooms.

The Black and White tones are very harsh, possibly to signify thae harsh reality, that is, growing up in the Samoan Culture? It seems very different to if you watched a movie about an upper class European family, which are usually in bright colours, with lots of laughter and happiness.

By having no racialally discrimiable ideas already in our minds, it enables us to have a clear conscience when viewing this film.

None of the adults in the film seem to realise just how much strain these responsibilities are putting on young Tino. The end of the film is also the ending of the new born babies life. Tino has washed, feed and cared for his youngest sibling. He puts her to bed, because his parents are not around to do so. We see Tino wake up like a strange feeling has overcome him. He rushes to the babies bassinet.

The baby is dead.

Tino's parents rush in to see what he is screaming about, when they find out, you see a very emotional family scrambling around trying to do all they can for their child, hoping their is some way they can save her.

While all this is going on, not one person checks to see if Tino is alright. No one thinks about Tino and all his hard work he has done for this baby. No one thinks to tell him it is okay, it is not his fault.