BECOMING FOGĀLEPOLO

This short documentary looks into the extraordinary story of Fogalepolo Lepou ( Paul). After travelling the world and working over seas, the builder and former soldier of the New Zealand Defense Force decided to returned to his roots in 2009 by relocating with wife Joan to his mother's village of Fasitoo-uta, Samoa. At the heart of his decision was a desire to fulfil his mother's wishes of making something of land that she and her father (Paul's grandfather) had worked hard to attain but had been neglected for decades. Today this land is called Ifiele'ele Plantation. An organic farm offering a bed and breakfast built by Paul and Joan as a living tribute to his mother and testament of the inextricable bond of Samoan People to their land, culture and family.

CLIENT

WorldBank Pacific, SAFPROM

Director/DP: Denisa Manaskova
Producer: Liz Ah-Hi, Fine Mats Studio
Edit: Denisa Manaskova
Featuring: Fogalepolo Lepou and Joan Macfarlane