I have not blogged about movies that I have seen for the year. They aren’t much, due to the crazy busyness that grad school constantly gives me. For the year, Sione’s Wedding is so far, my favorite. Cyrus and I saw this for free at the New Zealand Film Fest at EDSA Shangri-la Mall. It was the perfect movie to renew and relax us for upcoming grad school requirements.
Basically, it’s about a Samoan Wedding. Sione is getting married and the four best friends, including Sione’s brother, Michael are banned from attending because of all the chaos they caused in numerous other occasions. It’s a silly premise, from a Filipino standpoint. I mean, I would be relieved if I am informed that I don’t have to attend a wedding. But, this is Samoa. The way they played with their culture and racial stereotypes are hilarious. They are making fun of their own idiosyncrasies without being insulting to their own culture. I wonder if we would ever reach this level of humor in Philippine cinema…
My favorite character, by far is Albert. Aside from the fact that this “good boy” / “mama’s boy” stereotype sort of reminds me of someone, his character is absolutely adorable! At 30-something, he appears clueless and innocent despite his party-boy reputation. Oh how will he get a girl? He tries to get a tattooed hon-ay and ends up buying boots instead. When he dates a pretty Samoan his mother procured for him, he was a bungling innocent! And when he finally finds romance in a friend-zone office mate, it was incredibly sweet. Michael, isn’t really attractive (none of them really are, except maybe Michael), but he’s the type of guy that you’d want to hug and just never let go of! Oh Albert!
The other three are Michael, Stanley and Sefa; all adorable by their own rights. Michael is a hot playboy who keeps on sleeping around with white girls. Though he thought he found true love in Albert’s Princess, it ends up being a complete bust. Stanley lives on a cloud and is in-love with a text mate. Cliche at its finest! When he finally found her and saw that they get their groove on, I just can’t help but laugh out loud. Sefa, has the typical story. He’s the messed-up drunk who found his way after finding out that his girlfriend is pregnant. It was sweet nonetheless.
I don’t know how far they took the racial stereotype play, as I am not a Samoan. But I really find it hilarious. I hope that it’s not offensive to their culture, but given that New Zealand featured it in their film fest and that it received really good reviews online, I guess they played it fair. It’s laughing at one’s self without putting down one’s culture is where you could get HUMOR. I can’t think of a contemporary Filipino film that could make use of such devices.
I still smile to myself when I remember Sione’s Wedding. I can’t help it. Researching online led me to find Sione’s Wedding 2: Unfinished Business. The story happens 5 years after the wedding. And yes, I really want to watch this. Whatever happened to them? Watching the previous, I also found out that Oscar Kightley (Albert) is also a co-writer. Amazing! If I meet this guy, I would give him a really tight bear-hug. He’s really adorable!
Read some of their funny quotes here:
Albert: She smiled at me. She likes me.
Stanley: How can you tell? By the flirtatious way she’s ignoring you?
Lol! Go hon-ay! 😛
Also, see Oscar Kightley in his glasses!
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Portia Placino 
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