‘He was there the whole way’: Tinā film, an emotional tribute to Pua Magasiva

The feature film Tinā dazzles audiences across Aotearoa, with film critics raving and declaring it a must-watch.

Director Miki Magasiva and lead actress Anapela Polata’ivao join NiuFM’s The Morning Shack, offering exclusive insights into what it takes to bring this powerful emotional story to the big screen.

The film follows the journey of music teacher Mareta Percival (Anapela Polata’ivao), who, after losing her daughter in the Christchurch earthquakes, unwillingly accepts a position as a substitute teacher at a prestigious private school.

The story navigates the themes of direction, motivation, affection, and understanding.

The grief Percival grapples with for her daughter mirrors what Magasiva experiences during the sudden passing of his late brother Pua Magasiva in 2019.

This May marks six years since the famed actor’s death, and Magasiva says his family still feels the impact deeply. Like a wound that has scarred but never healed.

“We haven't really talked about it much…as a family, we don't. We try not to, you know, Sāmoan families, you don't talk about that sort of stuff.”

Tinā ends with a dedication card to Pua, evoking emotional responses from premiere audiences. Magasiva sees how proud his family is as they watch the film unfold.

“But I can see how proud they are when they see those words up there. I just try to honour it in the work. But he has been helping drive this whole thing the whole time.”

Belz and her whistles

This marks Polata’ivao’s first lead role in a film, as she usually portrays comedic relief.

In Tinā, she steps into a more emotionally complex character while maintaining the quick-witted Pacific humour she’s known for.

She shares that the role teaches her a fundamental yet simple lesson, to breathe.

“Breathing helps because it just allows everything to go through the body, and relaxation helps. This is the very first time (I’ve had) to carry something from the beginning to the end.

“What I've learned is just be still, breathe it and just be honest in the moment.”

Polata’ivao emphasises the importance of being present.

Tinā director Miki Magasiva and lead actor Anapela Polata'ivao. Photo/Suppled

“I'm just in there just soaking in the moment and understanding what that means.

“There's something, some magic happens. It happens to you. But also because I've had a bit of life. Sometimes for actors, it's not so much about the training, but go and live.”

A guiding light

Both Polata’ivao and Magasiva highlight the spiritual presence guiding the entire creative process of Tinā.

Magasiva says he could feel Pua’s warmth and guidance throughout.

“We've spoken a lot about the spiritual nature of this production and lots of things going on that we just couldn't explain. And a lot of it, I feel like had to do with that.”

He recalls the emotional reactions from family members afer seeing the film.

“We haven't talked about it. But I didn't need to, because the first moment my niece saw it, who Sophie is named after, I could see it in her face when she came to hug me.

“The first time Rob saw it, I could see it in his face when he came to hug me. And I could see it in dad's face as well.

“Those things are all connected. Yeah, he was there the whole way.”

Magasiva adds that the healing process continues for him, his family, and their wider circles, expressing gratitude for everyone who feels moved by this work.

Tinā is now showing in cinemas across Aotearoa.

A standing ovation for Tinā cast and crew at the Auckland premiere in February. Photo/Atutahi Potaka-Dewes