Long Lost Sons

About

Charismatic brothers Jason & Kris Fa’afoi take an emotional first journey to their tiny Pacific homeland – Tokelau. Returning with their parents the boys have an hilarious and heartwarming trip as they discover ‘island time’ and come to grips with their heritage.

Like 60% of Pacific Island New Zealanders, the Fa’afois were born away from ‘home’ and can’t hold a conversation in the their native language.

TV personality Jason (What Now?) and younger brother Kris (TV One reporter) were born and bred in Christchurch (NZ) and maintain that jandals and lava lavas are strictly off limits in their house.

“It’s really weird” says Jason. “We don’t look like white people, but we are so-o-o-o not Tokelaun it’s not funny.” Kris adds “It’s just the box that we ticked when they gave us the census.

” The boy’s parents, Amosa and Metita Fa’afoi, were born and bred on the Tokealuan island of Fakaofo. Their atoll is literally a few tiny dots in the Pacific Ocean, near the Equator, with no other land in sight.

There are no airports and no roads on the Tokelaus. The only way to get there is by boat from Samoa – a journey that takes almost 50 hours. So much has changed since Amosa and Meti left, but there are still secret spots, island cricket and the love of their home to share with the kids.

For Amosa and Meti it’s a hugely enriching, tearful return journey. And for the boys it’s a complete eye-opener as they discover an identity they had tried to avoid. Rated by the Christcurch Press as the best NZ documentary of 2004, and described in The Dominion Post as a ‘great little documentary’, this is a family holiday unlike any other. Long Lost Sons takes a heartfelt journey home.

Technical Specifications

TV Production

Production Year: 2003

Category: Documentary

Commissioning Broadcaster: TVNZ for TV One

Transmission Date: 3 May 2004

Producer: Gary Scott

Director: Lotta McVeigh

Duration: 45 mins

Outline: The Fa’afoi brothers are bold, larger than life and they have never been home. This is the year. Their parents are dragging them back, for a full-on personal journey that is not only about roots, and a ceremonial homecoming, but the complex guilt/support relationship of people who have left the islands to make a life here.