Kainga: NZIFF Review

Anthologies are difficult things to master.

If you get the wrong mix of stories, then the time will drag slowly, and the breaks inbetween stories won't come quickly enough.

But the team behind Vai and Waru, prior hits at the New Zealand International Film Festival know well enough what's required - and waste no time hitting the emotional depths of what's needed and showcasing stories that are seldom told on screen.

Opening with the proverb, "Housed in my home are stories of my becoming," Kainga takes pan-Asian cinema makers and story tellers and gives a canvas to paint something poignant.

All set under one roof, 11 Rua Road, the eight stories showcase different material over different decades.

From a Chinese women entering a predominantly Maori home to mourn her father to a Tamil Eelam sister looking for old memories, these are some softly told narratives which are rarely seen on screen, most of which hit with a poignancy that's hard to deny. They're all stories that have a quiet dignity to them, and while some of them will feel familiar with their themes of isolation and family, they're all told with a splendour that's captivating.

Obviously some will be favourited more than others, but what Kainga does with decency is to showcase stories and languages (shamefully) rarely found on our screens. Each director brings something to each story, and some of the imagery is powerful, while other imagery is simply a representation of a way of life not often projected.

Kainga's portmanteau is emotionally engaging fare and a sign that important stories are still needing to be told.