TL;DR – A film that brings you joy from the moment they start in a house covered in Tongan flags till those final credits roll.

Post-Credit Scene – There is no post-credit scene.

Disclosure – I paid to watch this film.

Red, White & Brass Review –

There are many emotions that cinema can bring forth, and if I am honest, my favourite is joy. You are just sitting there beaming with a smile stretching from one side of your face to the other. It is so easy for films to come off as disingenuous that it is hard to nail joy in its purest form. However, today, we look at a movie that not only nails it, it revels in it.

So to set the scene, it is Wellington, and the 2011 Rugby World Cup is descending on New Zealand. Flags are popping up all across the city as everyone gets into the celebratory mode. But Veni (Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi) was not quite prepared to find his house covered, and I mean covered, in the red/white cross of Tonga’s flag. His best friend Maka (John-Paul Foliaki) has been trying to get enough money so all of his church can see the Tonga v France match live. However, when several of his schemes fall through, he discovers a way forward, but it just means getting everyone to become a proficient brass band, oh and only in a couple of weeks.

I am always intrigued when I see “Inspired by a true story” at the start of a film. But Red, White & Brass takes this up a notch with “Straight up, this actually happened”. From that point, you know you are in for a ride because something wild is about to go down. Well, getting a marching brass band together in a couple of weeks when you don’t have instruments, no one has played a trombone before, let alone held one, and you must do all that while marching. I used to play a brass instrument, and I can tell you that it is hard enough without adding choreography to it. So I was captured right from the start.

The two leads are perfect counterpoints to each other. Maka is full of energy and ideas but might lack some sense, while Veni is much more grounded and reserved, becoming indecisive. The way they bounce off each other creates the core dynamic of the film as it extends further into their family and community lives. They both go through a journey throughout the movie as they find their own version of what is described as Māfana. This is part of the exploration of Tongan culture that is embedded in every frame of this film. Indeed the film effortlessly switches from English to Tongan and back again in the middle of sentences, but you can always follow through the flow.

As we follow the different shenanigans as the band comes together in a somewhat chaotic production, we are treated to some of the best comedic moments I have seen all year. Picking just two of many throughout the film, there is the power of an Aunty when Elisiva (Valeti Finau) focuses her attention on a problem and the waters of the Red Sea part for her. The tonal shifts in these scenes are a delight to see and help shape the film for the better. Some of the cast are reprising their roles from real-life. I am not quite sure how else to put that. But it gives the film an extra layer of authenticity that we see in movies like The Farewell.

Then we got a fight, not using fists or lyrics, but musical instruments. It was a dual of brass, and it was a delight to watch and hear. On the subject of music, the score and needle drops throughout the film are some of the best I have listened to this year. It brings more familiar (for me) brass sounds and deconstructs them, and reinterprets them through a Pacific lens. You can’t help but get taken away with the beat as it dances through your heart. Sure, you can see some of the film’s smaller budget in places. However, when it counts, they slam those musical moments out of the park.

In the end, do we recommend Red, White & Brass? Absolutely. I had a blast with this film from start to end. There was a joy that welled up in my heart as I watched, and I am happy there were some tears of joy at the end when it all landed. If you liked Red, White & Brass, I would recommend to you Hunt for the Wilderpeople.    

By Brian MacNamara: You can follow Brian on Twitter Here, when he’s not chatting about Movies and TV, he’ll be talking about International Relations, or the Solar System.

Have you watched Red, White & Brass?, let us know what you thought in the comments below, feel free to share this review on any of the social medias and you can follow us Here. Check out all our past reviews and articles Here, and have a happy day. 


Credits – All images were created by the cast, crew, and production companies of Red, White & Brass
Directed by – Damon Fepulea’i
Written by – Damon Fepulea’i & Halaifonua Finau
Music by – Three Doors Down
Cinematography by – Andrew McGeorge
Edited by – Damon Fepulea’I, Paul Maxwell & Ben Powdrell
Production/Distribution Companies – Piki Films, M2S1 Films, Miss Conception Films & Madman Entertainment
Starring – John-Paul Foliaki, Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi, Ilaisaane Green, Hariata Moriarty, Onetoto Ikavuka, Valeti Finau, Tevita Finau, Mikey Falesiu, Lupeti Finau, Lotima Pome’e, Haanz Fa’avae-Jackson, Nathaniel Lees, Karen O’Leary & Suzy Cato  
Rating – Australia: PG; New Zealand: PG