Snow in Paradise

Snow in Paradise by Justine Simei-Barton and Nikki Si’ulera takes place in the idyllic and colourful Aitutaki of the Cook Islands, where two young siblings spend their days catching fish, opening up coconuts and peeling fruit for their grandmother. Life on this earthly heaven is serene, but not for long. From 1966 to 1996, 188 nuclear tests were carried out in the South Pacific atoll of Mururoa. No-one took the trouble of warning the neighbouring islands’ population and any talk on the horrendous repercussions has been hushed ever since.

Screening Schedule

No physical screenings scheduled.

Direction: Nikki Si’ulepa, Justine Simei-Barton

Script: Nikki Si’ulepa

Cinematography: Waka Attewell

Editing: Debbie Matthews, Andrew Mortimer

Sound: Tom Miskin

Music: John Gibson

Actors: Mereana Bishop, Michael Tatira, Vainehuraorairai Mii Tupuna Eiariki Taamo Charlie, Leonard Roa, Teremoana Strickland, Itu Dilynh Lorensoj Davey, Matapurotu Riki, Ngatokoitu Riki, Pepe Teopu, Stephen Doherty

Production: Tala Pasifika Productions

Producers: Paul Simei-Barton

Costumes: Larissa Lofley

Production Design: Ngaire Fuata

Executive producer: Tearepa Kahi, Quinton Hita

Format: DCP

Color: Color

Production Country: New Zealand

Production Year: 2012

Duration: 9΄

Contact: New Zealand Film Commission

Film courtesy of TeTumu Whakaata Taonga New Zealand Film Commission

Nikki Si’ulepa

Nikki has worked in the Film and Television industry since 1995 in various areas both in front of and behind the camera. She fell into acting the year after she finished high school, landing a lead role in Ian Mune’s feature film Whole of the Moon. Her performance in this film earned her the Best Actress Award at the Giffoni Film Festival in Italy, and the Best Actress Award at the NZ Film and Television Awards in 1996. After the movie, she played a number of roles in television drama series and worked in production jobs on various film sets. Since 2005 Nikki has been director, reporter, and camera operator for Television New Zealand’s Pacific Island show, Tagata Pasifika.

Filmography

2012 Snow in Paradise (short, co-direction)
2014 Ma (short)
2015 Aroha (short)
2019 Same But Different: A True New Zealand Love Story

Justine Simei-Barton

Justine Simei-Barton was born in Porirua, Wellington. Her family comes from the Samoan villages of Sasina and Solosolo. She has been a key figure in the emergence of a “Pacific Voice” in New Zealand drama on both stage and screen. In recognition of her contributions in these areas, she was awarded the New Zealand Arts Council Senior Pacific Artist Award in 2007. Over the last ten years her own production company, Tala Pasifika Productions, has been involved in producing film & television drama from a Pacific Island perspective while helping young Pacific Islanders to enter the industry. Her work on the groundbreaking television drama Matou Uma earned her a nomination as Best Drama Director at the 2001 New Zealand Television awards. In 1987, Justine formed New Zealand’s first Pacific Island drama company and directed a number of original devised works as well as a major outdoor production of Romeo & Juliet which transposed the drama to a nineteenth-century Samoan setting.