Film aims to inspire 'queer' Pacific youth to confidently embrace their true selves

A Wellington artist says representation is crucial within the Pacific households, especially for young Pacific queer people.

Christopher Ulutupu, of Sāmoan-Niuean descent, says many young queer Pasifika face various challenges growing up.

Ulutupu created a short film, the soap opera ‘Sisifo’ as part of the Flaming Star series about showcasing queer and indigenous experiences in the Western culture.

In an interview with Island Time, Ulutupu says that growing up in a village where people freely expressed themselves allowed him to explore the identity of a Pacific queer individual.

Ulutupu adds that everyone has different experiences growing up queer in a Pacific household, and through the film, ‘Sisifo’, he hopes to convey messages of love and acceptance.

“You can be yourself and you can be loved and you can be cherished in those spaces,” he says. “This is to kind of emphasise that you can be yourself and everyone should have the right to love, and who they want.”

Ulutupu draws much of his inspiration for the film from the term “west”, as it translates to “sisifo” in Sāmoan.

He reflects on the historical context surrounding the dropping of the term ‘Western’ from Western Sāmoa.

He adds that the removal of that term was quite powerful and how important it is to the Pacific community.

Christopher Ulutupu’s Manino opening exhibition 2024. Photo/Jhana Millers Gallery.

“Dropping was quite powerful…that got me thinking about the term West, and what the significance that is for our communities and for our histories and us as Pacific peoples,” Ulutupu says.

Ulutupu says growing up in Samoa, everyone was captivated by Filipino and Korean movies and TV shows. His grandmother would make him watch Asian television with her, translating the subtitles because she did not understand English.

He says this is where his perspective for creating the film came from, especially the bonding moments with his grandmothers. “Sisifo is my soap opera for her and my other nanas.”

He says that without their influence, he would not be the person he is today.

Through his film, ‘Sisifo’, Ulutupu aims to inspire the younger queer community to be confident in themselves and feel accepted in every space they enter.

You can view ‘Sisifo’ in the new exhibition Flaming Star at the Dowse Art Museum in Lower Hutt.

Watch the full interview with Christopher Ulutupu below.