An introduction to Tinā
This intro was written by Michael Wootton for our screening of Tinā (Magasiva 2024) in November 2025. Unfortunately, we didn’t have time to hear the full introduction on the night, but here it is for everyone to read! Our audience gave this film 4.7 stars.
Tinā is the heartwarming debut film for Samoan-born, NZ/Aotearoa-based writer and director Miki Magasiva. It won Best Film at the Seattle International Film Festival and has been nominated for numerous other awards. It got a cinema release early in 2025. In August this year, it became New Zealand’s fifth most successful film ever at the box office.
The film’s premise is surrounded by this idea of community. “Tinā” is the Samoan word for “mother”. It’s a title characters use for protagonist Mareta Percival (Anapela Polataivao), a woman referred to as protecting her community and school children. The film is set mostly against the backdrop of a New Zealand elite private school, where cultural and socio-economic divides between different people of New Zealand play out. The film feels like an authentic look into the politics and trivialities of life in a private school – although comical at times for entertainment.
All the children we see in the film are dealing with some form of trauma in their home life, and Mareta tries to create solutions to alleviate their heartache. Mareta is not your average conventional teacher, her warmth and care are exactly what these children need to thrive. The love of music and need for togetherness is what binds the choir together and drives them to pursue their passion, even if it means breaking the rules. The film deals with taboo topics like death and suicide ideation, however Mareta navigates this space with love and affection – doing what she thinks is best for herself and community. As story progresses, we see that Mareta needs the children just as much as the children need Mareta and music.
To me, the thing I found most interesting about the film was about what it wasn’t. Let me explain. In its marketing, Tinā was presented in a way that was inspired by true events. Now, not to diminish the fantastic story, acting and themes of the film, it is mostly fiction. Mareta is not a real person. In fact, the story was based around a moving choir performance at The Big Sing competition the director saw. I thought to myself afterwards, why was this mentioned? And I wonder in knowing this, if this changes your perception and viewing of the film? I think at times that the characters and moments of the plot must be derived from non-fiction, as they feel too authentic to not be.
This is fantastic film and at times a bit of a tear jerker so I hope you brought tissues.
Further reading
An argument with myself about Tinā, the movie of the moment - Madeleine Chapman, The Spinoff, 27 Feb 2025
Tinā: the tiny, big-hearted New Zealand movie that became a smash hit – against the odds - George Fenwick, The Guardian, 26 Apr 2025
Anapela Polataivao soars with verve and vitality in Tinā - Andrew F Peirce, The Curb, 30 Apr 2025
On the Screen Review: Tinā - Con Nats, Theatre Now, 2 May 2025
Samoan New Zealanders (Wikipedia)