Synopsis:

One Thousand Ropes is a story of a father reconnecting with his youngest daughter and together putting to rest the ghosts that haunt them.

She arrives vulnerable: badly beaten and heavily pregnant. He struggles with the spiritual temptation and the encouragement from the men in his life, to take revenge in the way he knows best on the one hand and on the other, to build the new family and companionship so desperately missing from his life. 

Film Review:

A film about domestic violence, traditions and redemption. Maea (Uelese Petaia), a lonely man who used to be a boxer, now a famous midwife in a small town. He massages and helps deliver babies for most of the women in his community.

His daughter Lisa (Frankie Adams), came to him one day pregnant and severely beaten. He took her and looked after her. Although Maea has been living quietly by himself for years, he has not been at peace with life. His dark past has always haunted him. And his daughter serves as a symbol that the time has come for a reckoning, not just for Maea but everyone around including the ghost lurking around his house.

Filled with anger towards himself, Maea resorts to more violence leaving him wounded and unable to perform his healings. Realising that the only way to save his daughter is to let her take back her spirit stolen away from her. She had to deliver her baby on her own as what her father advised her. Understanding what it truly meant, Lisa did it.

Through her giving birth, Lisa has released everyone from the burden of the past, and the future looked a bit brighter.  All of their lost souls found their places and finally Maea found peace in himself.

The film is remarkable in all aspects.  A great plot and story telling combined made this whole movie successful. The dark, dramatic tone and superbly paced technique brought a gripping experience. Tusi Tamasese wrote and directed the film has chosen to show how reality can feel augmented sometimes. When he made Seipua (Sima Urale), the ghost in the movie, appear to be a real person made her seem more dangerous. This move demonstrates that human beings can have both good and evil spirits. The question is if the goodness is enough to outweigh the scourge.

Filled with excellent performances by the cast as well as brilliant editing and cinematography. And indeed a proud moment for Samoan-New Zealand film industry. An intensely gripping film of this age.

NZ Release Date: March 23, 2017