Tinā – Movie Review
4th World Media Lab and the cINeDIGENOUS Spotlight at the 2025 Seattle International Film Festival.
First Reaction – Tinā is an inspiring, emotional story.
Director: Miki Magasiva
Writer: Miki Magasiva, Mario Gaoa (Screenplay)
Cast
- Anapela Polativao (The Changeover)
- Antonia Robinson (The Brokenwood Mysteries)
- Beulah Koale (Next Goal Wins)
- Dalip Sondhi (Blueback)
- Nicole Whippy (Vertical Limit)
Plot: A woman, grieving her daughter’s death in the Christchurch quakes, becomes a substitute teacher at an elite school. Unexpectedly, she discovers students lacking guidance and care, prompting her to provide inspiration and support.
Runtime: 2 Hours 4 Minutes
There may be spoilers in the rest of the review
Story: Tinā starts when a school teacher, Mareta (Polataivao), loses her daughter in the Christchurch earthquakes. This sends her into a grieving process, and she struggles to find her place in the world. Mareta gets an offer at an elite school, where she looks different from the rest of the employees.
It doesn’t take long before Mareta rubs the head of the school, Peter Wadsworth (Irvine), the wrong way. However, she sees it as a chance to give young people a chance to chase their dreams as she looks to inspire them to find their voice.
Verdict on Tinā
Recap
The movie follows a grieving teacher who accepts a role at an elite school to inspire a group of students to find their voices. It shows the stricter rules they are put through, but her teaching offers them a chance to feel free from the expectations thrown at them.
Best Parts
The movie shows that cultures can live side by side if people are willing to accept their differences. It shows that young minds can be left unsure of what they want, and face different challenges in life. Mareta is an excellent character who has been through a lot and finds a way to inspire others despite her own loss. One of the best compliments you can give this movie is that it feels like a calmer version of ‘School of Rock’ there is also elements of ‘Dead Poets Soceity’ in the story too. It shows a teacher finding a way to connect to students in a way others haven’t, using music to inspire them to find their voices. The student all have different problems and Mareta must find the best way to help them overcome their them.
Final Thoughts –Tinā is an excellent, emotional and inspiring story.