The Wind & the Reckoning

I love the history of this film, and the use of the native Hawaiian language, not so familiar to many, but as powerful as it is beautiful. The scenery is great and the overall look of the film is wonderful. The storyline is so appropriate for today after COVID gave world governments more power then we've experienced for many years. Power in the wrong hands is treachery and courage is always inspiring!

Living in Hawaii has given me a new appreciation of the struggle the Hawaiians faced as the rest of the world descended on this beautiful island paradise. It grieves me that they had to put up with belittling attitudes and judgemental aggression. Change in the name of progress is not always kind, gentle, gracious nor righteous.

Director David Cunningham delivers another masterpiece in his new film The Wind and the Reckoning. The film is beautiful shot in Hawaii. The cast delivers a heartfelt performance. I loved the balance of English and the Hawaiian language. I left the theater contemplating the importance of Ohana and how far I would go to protect my own family. The Wind and the Reckoning is a powerful, moving and beautiful film. History is so important for us to learn from and than we can apply the lessons learned to our life today. Let's learn from the past and begin to heal. This is a must see movie that will entertain, inform and inspire.

The Wind & The Reckoning is the best movie made in Hawaii. It premiered on November 4 at the Bishop Museum as the opening Film of the 42nd Annual Hawaii International Film Festival where it received The Made In Hawaii Award For Feature Film. In The Boston Film Festival it took eight awards Including Best Film, Best Screenplay (John Fusco), Best Director (David L. Cunningham), Best Actress (Lindsay Anuhea Watson), Best Cinematography (Scott Lee Mason), Best Story/Best Editing (Kyle Gilbertson), and Best Ensemble Cast. Why it has not been reviewed by any major critics Is a total travesty and a mystery.

It Has a legendary story brought to life, in action, drama, and romance while exploring the plight of the native Hawaiians at the time of the overthrow in 1893 and the cruel roundup of those afflicted by leprosy by unscrupulous bounty hunters

This film tells the story of one of Hawaiis most legendary heroes, Koolau, (the powerful Jason Scott Lee) a late 19th century paniolo (cowboy) whose life on Kauai is upended by the requirement from the coup leaders that all persons with leprosy must be quarantined in Kalaupapa on the Island of Molokai. He decides to resist and plans to escape into the hills and lava tubes. That night, he and his son Kalei (in an extraordinary debut by Kahiau Perreira) are captured and when his employer, Eben Sinclair (the sympathetic Patrick Gilbert) intervenes, a struggle ensues and Koolau kills a deputy sheriff. He flees with his family into the mountains of Kauai and is pursued by the U. S. Army led by Capt. McCabe (the homicidal Henry Ian Cusick) as well as Marshall Hamilton (Jonathan Schaech).

As Koolau, Jason Scott Lee turns in the performance of his career. He is dignified, a loving husband and father, a well thought of employee and a fierce warrior. His calm demeanor is contrasted with his fierce defense of his family and freedom. It is an Oscar worthy performance.

Equally excellent is Lindsay Anuhea Watson as Piilani. Ms Watson, who is a native of Kula, Maui, has only done two films and has one in the can, but her on screen persona is magnetic and her wonder woman warrior is like the mother lion defending her cubs; you would not want to mess with her.

It is a great story, sumptuously told in beautiful cinematography by newcomer Scott Lee Mason, the drone shots are so well done and the action sequences make the audience feel the danger and violence. It has Oscar worthy performances across the board, Jason Scott Lee as magnificent, Koolau, Lindsay Anuhea Watson as the gorgeous, powerful Piilani and a supporting one for Henry Ian Cusick as the angry, drunkard Capt. McCabe. If this movie is not playing where you are, ask your local cinema to get it. It is A REAL SLEEPER. The best film made in Hawaii to date.

PS they do not allow apostrophes or okinas.

This movie is fantastic in so many ways. A brilliant story from dialogue to scenery to acting that focuses on the injustices done to the Hawaiians, through the main character Ko'olau and his family, by the newly formed government and what Hawaiians think about what is being done to them.

The director, who is from Hawai'i, also address, brilliantly I might add, what it is to be haole, which doesn't mean entirely being a white person. I think that was done so well. To the main characters, Westerners are seen as both villain and family (very similar to what it is like today). General McCabe the bounty hunter, who leads his mercenaries, is very much the villain and the type of haole Hawaiians despise. Ignorant, racist, and arrogant, he leads equally as ignorant mercenaries. Then there's Marshall Hitchcock, a locally born white person who is somewhere in the middle, neither good nor bad. He believes what he is doing is correct (forcing lepers to Molokai) regardless that he is conspiring with people who are enemy to the Hawaiians. Ko'olau who was once friends with him even challenges him on this. And then there's Eben Sinclair, a locally born white person, who is family to the main characters and does all he can, even risking his life, to help Ko'olau and his family. And the director brilliantly shows the strong bond between Hawaiians and this type of haole.

There's even dialogue between Ko'olau and his son on this issue of being haole. That the real haole isn't white, but the person with no 'breath' who is not in allegiance with the Hawaiians and their Queen and kingdom. A person that does not respect the laws and customs of Hawai'i and instead imposes their culture onto Hawaiians, including racism and classism, instead of adapting to their ways.

All this is done without the white savior complex we often see in films like this. These haoles are just kind of secondary characters. The director does this while still making Ko'olau the main character and hero, and he does it in a way that makes you focus mostly on Ko'olau and his family.

You walk away from the film angry about what those haoles did to Hawaiians, and understanding how to be good haole.

One hell of a film.

I really enjoyed watching this movie not only because I am a fan of western styled movies but because it bring to light a story and history rarely discussed. Being able to peek into the deep complex history of Hawai'i was a very pleasant experience, especially told from the side of faith and prosperity. I can only imagine what those native Hawaiians must have faced and experienced during those times. Seeing how the leper community was treated brought tears to my heart. Knowing they were lied to, exploited, and killed for something they had no control over was horrific. The ending was a bit cheesy but I really loved the journey this film took me on. I will definitely be watching it again and with my kids!