NAMING NUMBER TWO

Directed and Written by: Toa Fraser
Running time: 92 minutes
Release date: July 27, 2007
Genre: Drama, Comedy
Distributor: Cyan Pictures

The setting in this vibrant film is Mt. Roskill, New Zealand where an older spirited matriarch Nanna Maria, played by the legendary Ruby Dee, wakes up one morning with dreams of her home Fiji, when life with her family was joyful.

She insists on bringing the family together with a party at their Aukland, New Zealand home and declare a successor to the run down family estate. Nanna Maria has her grown granddaughter Charlene (Mia Blake) and grown grandson Eramus (Rene Naufahu) summon the entire family for a grand feast at this estate known as No.2 house.

Complications of getting Nanna Maria's favorite, Tyson (Xavier Horan) to come is hard. He has distanced himself from the "old ways" and is now dating a Danish-European girlfriend Maria (Tuva Novotny).

The Danish Maria is curious about the family and persuades Tyson to come. Tyson arrives with his girlfriend and the two Marias' meet. Nanna Maria recognises a kindred spirit and instantly breaks her rule about no outsiders by inviting Danish Maria to stay. But that only one problem with this large family. It seems everyone has a grudge against one another for some reason. But as the festive day goes on they all seem to come together and name a rebellious but good-hearted great-grandson Soul (Taungaroa Emile) her successor.

This is one of the most feel good sleeper movies I've seen this year. This cast of Miriamo McDowell, Nathaniel Lees, Tanea Heke, Pio Terei, Te Paki Cherrington and Antony Starr are fantastic in their roles displaying the roots of Samoa and Fiji. This story could have been set in any culture, but it was even more thrilling to see it in this traditional ethnicity.

B+