麻豆传媒

Film

鈥樐�ina Paikai

WHAT IS the best way to carry out activism? How should we communicate bad news in ways that stir into action those who, not unreasonably, just want to get on with their lives?

, a 20-minute short film directed by Hawaiian film-maker 鈥樐�ina Paikai, asks those questions through the dramatised experiences of one man: the Hawaiian falsetto singer and musician George Jarrett Helm Jr.

Born in 1950, Helm was a guitarist and singer with a legendary vocal range. In his 20s he became a leading voice in Hawaii鈥檚 emerging Aloha 鈥樐�ina movement, which translates as 鈥渓ove of the land鈥� and spawned campaigns on environmental rights and Hawaiian sovereignty.

In 1976, Helm was part of a group called , the smallest island in the Hawaiian archipelago, as a firing range and for bombing target practice.

After an initial attempt to halt military activity failed, the group decided to land repeatedly and illegally on Kaho鈥檕lawe. In March 1977, Helm disappeared in high seas as he was attempting to reach the island on his surfboard.

In the film, Helm鈥檚 gentleness, charisma and regrettably short lifetime of activism 鈥� he was 26 when he vanished 鈥� comes to a head in a scene in which he and his fellow campaigners attempt to convince a sceptical and straight-laced church congregation to support the cause. While unilaterally unimpressed at first, Helm鈥檚 singing, and a stirring call to protect their shared homeland, ensures there isn鈥檛 a dry eye in the church. It is a moment that sounds like the purest schmaltz, but thanks to the film鈥檚 skilful editing, its talented lead actor and its use of archive music, the scene proves moving enough 鈥� and is entirely convincing, despite it being a work of fiction.

鈥淗elm was a leading voice in the emerging Aloha 鈥樐�ina movement, which translates as 鈥榣ove of the land鈥欌��

There is plenty that is authentic about the film, however. Kolea Fukumitsu, the son of one of Helm鈥檚 fellow activists, plays the adult Helm in Hawaiian Soul. Fukumitsu鈥檚 son, Kamakani, plays him as a child. The actors playing the three PKO leaders are all from Helm鈥檚 home island of Moloka鈥檌, where the film was shot, and all have connections to the people they are portraying.

The film was awarded the inaugural Ocean Bottle Film Award at the , which ran alongside the COP26 UN climate change conference. It was the first film-making prize to highlight the perspectives of Indigenous and marginalised people on the climate crisis.

鈥淭he most vulnerable communities have the least to do with carbon emissions,鈥� Susanna Basso, who organised the festival, explained in an interview with the . 鈥淭he least we can do as a festival is to give over our platform鈥� and pass the mic.鈥�

This is a film about the challenges of making your voice heard. Helm鈥檚 clout came from his artistic and cultural authenticity, and we see that this came not from where he was born, but from his effort, study, commitment and, above all, his patience.

Helm didn鈥檛 live long enough to see Kaho鈥檕lawe get the protection he wanted 鈥� that didn鈥檛 come until 1994. But in the setting of COP26 鈥� the point of which was to allow nation states to posture, bargain and reach compromise 鈥� his music and simple, sincere words were an inspiring refreshment.

Hawaiian Soul will be available to until 13 December.

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