The portrayal of Hawaii onscreen has ranged from war dramas about Pearl Harbor to “The Descendants” and “50 First Dates” to “The White Lotus,” and most recently “Last Goal Wins.” Now, the tropical paradise in the Pacific finds a new lens — and voice — in Christopher Kahunahana’s feature debut “Waikiki.”
While the film fumbles through a stripped down script and stumbles towards a surrealist attempt at reframing the threats of tourism, “Waikiki” still offers a voice from a Native Hawaiian about his homeland. Sundance Lab alum Kahunahana wrote and directed the drama which follows hula dancer Kea (Danielle Zalopany) as her personal life crumbles.
Kea tries to hide the black eye her boyfriend Branden (Jason Quinn) pummeled into her; she tries to plaster a smile onstage while dancing and keeps her spirits up to deflect questions about her injury to curious young students where she teaches. But it’s when...
While the film fumbles through a stripped down script and stumbles towards a surrealist attempt at reframing the threats of tourism, “Waikiki” still offers a voice from a Native Hawaiian about his homeland. Sundance Lab alum Kahunahana wrote and directed the drama which follows hula dancer Kea (Danielle Zalopany) as her personal life crumbles.
Kea tries to hide the black eye her boyfriend Branden (Jason Quinn) pummeled into her; she tries to plaster a smile onstage while dancing and keeps her spirits up to deflect questions about her injury to curious young students where she teaches. But it’s when...
- 10/27/2023
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
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