Hollywood heavyweight Jason Momoa has stepped in to back an Oscar-contending New Zealand Short film made by Tongan actress Luciane Buchanan, joining as Executive Producer.
Buchanan, who previously co-starred with Momoa in Chief of War, announced the news this morning and told TVNZ it came about after she sent Momoa the film and a text message.
“I said, ‘No pressure, just putting it out there,'” Buchanan told Breakfast today. She wrote and stars in the short film.
“It was an idea that came up and I was like, ‘I don’t want to do that to him!’ But I got to the point where I thought he’s actually the perfect person for this role because he has his own insecurities with his connection to his culture and he got to explore that through making Chief of War.
“And he replied, ‘I’d love to! What can I do to support?’”
Directed by award-winning Tongan–NZ filmmaker Vea Mafile’o, the short film Lea Tupu’anga/Mother Tongue premiered at the Sundance festival last year and has since collected multiple awards around the world.
The story focuses on a young speech therapist, of Tongan and European heritage, who lies about her Tongan language skills to work with her first patient, a Tongan man with aphasia who can’t speak English.
Momoa said he was honoured to support Buchanan’s vision and the team behind the film. “Pacific Islander stories carry a depth, spirit, and ancestral connection that deserve to be seen and celebrated. Luciane’s work in Lea Tupu’anga/Mother Tongue is a beautiful example of that, honest, vulnerable, and rooted in heritage,” he said.
Lea Tupu’anga officially qualified for the Live Action Short category for the Academy Awards. If selected as a finalist, it will be the first New Zealand nomination since Taika Waititi’s, Two Cars, One Night short film in 2005.
“It is a long shot,” said Buchanan. “About 200 films make it to this stage and there’s a shortlist of 16 that we need to make. We’re having screenings here in Los Angeles and having my bro Jason come on as EP is helping us so much,” said Buchanan, who was born and brought up in New Zealand.
“It is actually more universal than we thought. We took it around the world and met people of all cultures who could identify with the theme. So, it’s pretty special.
“Once we got the news about qualifying for the Oscars, we thought – we’ve gotta try, at least.”
She says there were many factors that inspired her to tell the story.
“It is a reflection of me and my grandmother and my grandfather and just how we learned to communicate without being able to speak. I couldn’t speak Tongan and they couldn’t speak English. It’s just a love letter to them.”
Members of the Academy will vote on the Oscars shortlist next week with the final nominations set to be announced on January 22.
