* Hibiscus & Ruthless * FILM * ATA | VĀSA Reflections in an Ocean

Hibiscus (Suivai Pilisipi Autagavaia, from short Manurewa) and no nonsense Ruth (Anna-Maree Thomas) have been friends since school. But now Hibiscus is finishing university, and her domineering mother doesn't want boyfriends getting in the way. So Hibiscus enlists Ruth's help, to handle any temptations.

Hibiscus & Ruthless marks the second movie for writer/director SQS (Stallone Vaiaoga-Ioasa) — who won keen audiences in 2015 for his first feature, Samoan-set comedy Three Wise Cousins. Stuff reviewer James Croot praised the new film's casting, comedy and pathos. (NZ ON SCREEN)

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We come from generations of story tellers

We have so many stories, we could fill our ocean many times over

Our stories reflect our complex and beautiful diversity, the things that make us different and the similarities we have with each other - like our ocean, the VĀSA, it is the space between us, that connects us together.

In*ter*is*land Collective are honoured to present ATA | VĀSA – Reflections of an Ocean, a small but carefully curated collection of a few stories, told in the medium of film, that come from the latest generations of storytellers

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This film will be precluded by the short film Blackbird. To find out more information about this short film please visit: https://www.interislandcollective.com/events/2019/9/27/ata-vsa-reflections-of-an-ocean-blackbird

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Film: Hibiscus & Ruthless

Duration: 97 minutes (PG13)

Director: Stallone Vaiaoga-Ioasa

Cast: Suivai Autagavaia, Anna-Maree Thomas, Lafitaga Mafaufau

Country: Aotearoa, New Zealand (2018)