The Wind & the Reckoning

I watched this film at Hawaii International Film Festival and I was blown away, not only from the movie itself, but with the amazing cast and crew that dedicated so much time to this project and made this on a limited budget. The storytelling was authentic, the cinematography was stunning, and the delivery from the actors performing the poetic 'Olelo Hawai'i (aka Native Hawaiian language. IMDB cannot display the okina and kahako....) was one of the most authentic portrayals of Hawaiian history I have ever seen in cinema. This is based on the true memoir written by Pi'ilani, and some quotes were directly from her storytelling. The world needs to know what really happened to Hawai'i in the 19th century after the overthrow of the Hawaiian government.

This is a true story of real Hawaii in 1893 when the Queen and Kingdom of Hawaii was overthrown by businessmen. A beautiful story told in the wife's poetry! A family on the run from a Goverment quarantine during a Leprosy pandemic.

I think this is the first film to ever be shot in the whole native Hawaiian language "Olelo Hawaii". It's beautiful.

What I love about this film is that it shows the love, sacrifice, and fight of a family to not be separated by this disease, while still trying to not hate its oppressor. A lot of life lessons to take from this beautiful bio-pic.

Mahalo to all the film makers for telling a Hawaiian story that isn't Hollywoods version of Hawaii.

Wow...just wow! What an incredible film. And beautifully shot as well. Jason Scott Lee and Lindsay Watson gave such powerful performances and Henry Ian Cusick was outstanding. I saw the film in Honolulu at The Consolidated Ward Theater during its opening week. Some of the actors were there to answer when it finished. When the movie ended, there was a group in the audience that actually stood up and sang a sort of a chant back to the filmmakers, like they were thanking them for making this film. I was speechless. I have to say I am a bit embarrassed that I had no idea this had happened to the Hawaiians.

Based on one of the most interesting stories in Hawaiian history! It's portrayed so beautifully and I love that it's spoken in 'olelo Hawaii (the Hawaiian language). Don't be afraid of the subtitles 🤙

I've read Ko'olau's wife Pi'ilani's book and I thought the heart of it was brought to life so honestly and vividly by the filmmakers.

My 8 and 11 year old kids enjoyed the film too; it wasn't too scary for them and they related to the boy in the story.

I live on Kaua'i, so I can tell it was not filmed in the actual locations; aside from establishing shots. What would have made it better for me would be to have seen the actual places where the events took place. Kalalau beach and valley is majestic in real life (though I'm sure it looks different now than it did in Ko'olau's time) and but also so very remote and protected I'm sure it would be nearly impossible to film out there with full cast & crew.

The filmmakers did a great job with the essence of the story and telling it in a way that can make Hawaii proud.

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.