Vai

Vai is a groundbreaking anthology film from the year 2019 that casts a dedicated gaze at the indigenous cultures of the South Pacific Island. The film revolves around the life journey of one woman, ‘Vai', portrayed by different actresses at different stages, each hailing from one of the South Pacific Islands that the film journeys through. The primary actresses who bring ‘Vai' to life are Ro Mereani Adi Tuimatanisiga, Ar-Ramadi Longopoa, and Betsy Lania Luitolo.

Conceptualized by the directing quartet of ‘Waru’, it is an innovative cinematic experiment that provides an empathetic and authentic portrayal of Pacific Islander culture, gender, communities and connections through the metaphorical life journey of its eponymous character.

The title 'Vai' holds dual significance, functioning as a common name across the Pacific as well as symbolizing water in many languages of the Pacific Islands. The filmmakers use water not only as an emblematic thread binding the narrative arc of the film, but also effectively weave it into the tapestry of their storytelling canvas. Water serves as a universal metaphor for life, change, sustenance, and destruction, providing an expressive visual language that taps into the global conversations around climate change and displacement.

The film opens with 'Vai' as a seven-year-old girl, played by Mereani Tuimatanisiga, in Fiji, and moves progressively through her life stages spanning eight different island cultures, including Tonga, Solomon Islands, Cook Islands and New Zealand, among others. Each segment of Vai's life is narrated by a different actress, allowing the film to encapsulate various aspects of cultural and localized experiences peculiar to each Pacific Island, while maintaining the narrative continuity of Vai's life journey. The story loops around, connecting threads of womanhood, tradition, family, resilience, and identity, painting a vivid and empathetic picture of the togetherness and solidarity among Pacific Island women.

This anthology-style film bears a strong nexus with the director's previous film, 'Waru', yet carves out a distinct narrative space through both its story and storytelling technique. The filmmakers have urged the audience to view this film not just as a linear narrative journey of the protagonist, but as a moving kaleidoscope of Pacific Island cultures and traditions that celebrate their unique identities, histories, beliefs, and contrasts against a rapidly modernizing world.

The film beautifully manages to be both personal and universal. Although the episodic narrative focuses primarily on Vai's life progression, it uses her journey as a conduit to explore themes broader than an individual's life course. Provoking contemplation on native cultures, traditions, values, gender, and environmental issues, Vai manages to speak volumes about societal structures and pressures inherently woven into the fabric of Pacific community life.

Apart from the entrancing narrative, the film consistently surprises with its stunning visual appeal. It uses the picturesque landscapes of the Pacific - the crystal-blue water, verdant greenery, volcanic rocks, and radiant sunsets - not only to enhance its visual aesthetics but also to ground the narrative in the geographical and ecological uniqueness of the islands. Lit naturally by the sun or fire, the film’s visual narrative is as much a character as Vai herself, indulging the audiences with sensory delights while thematically linking to dialogues around climate change and sustainable living.

The performances by the actresses at different stages of Vai’s life are compelling and authentic, breathing life into their shared character. The emotional crux of the film is carried through these performances, supported by the localised anecdotes and indigenous practices infused into Vai's journey.

Music too plays an integral part, with traditional Pacific instruments and songs contributing to the tonal fabric of the film, merging harmoniously with the recurring acoustic thread of water, reinforcing the connection between the cultural and natural environment of the Pacific Islands.

In a nutshell, Vai is a mesmerizing cinematic journey that paints a heartfelt, poignant, and authentic portrait of Pacific Island life and culture. It's a mélange of intimate vignettes strung together by the fluid narrative. With its powerful storytelling and compelling performances, Vai speaks not just to the Pacific Islands but to the world, highlighting the universality of human experiences and emotions across various cultures and geographies.