The new Fijian boxing film Bati. opens and closes with its main character striking a lali – a traditional drum used to call villagers to church and important ceremonies – immediately signalling a unique cinematic experience, rich in cultural tradition and driven by a deep passion to bring Fijian stories to the big screen.
Directed and written by Andrew John Fakaua Ponton – hailing from the villages of Vaiaku, Funafuti, and Tuvalu – Bati is a remarkable achievement. Self-funded on a shoestring budget, made with non-actors and a small, relatively inexperienced crew of just six, the film has become the first Fijian feature to screen at Whānau Mārama – New Zealand International Film Festival.
