As some of you know from reading a previous blog of mine, I have been beyond excited about the Princess Ka’iulani film for more than four years.
I had been inspired by her story when I was growing up in Hawaii, and was determined to produce a film about her life in the far future after I had completed my education in film school. All that stopped when I found out that Hollywood Producer Mark Forby was set to create a movie about her.
My desire to create the film ended right there, and I devoted the following years constantly tracking the progress of the film.
I read through the casting difficulties, the protests, the filming at Iolani Palace, read the news reports, the excitement, the backlash, the anger, the praise. I made every kama’aina I knew in film school sit through the trailers with me. I spread the word to my former High School classmates, and basically almost melted in anticipation.
After nearly four years, I finally was able to see the film at a special screening last Monday.
All I can say is: I still want first dibbs at a remake!
Now I shall start my formal review of the film, which although was a beautiful picture, it was nothing that I had expected. In a bad way.
In my previous blog, I had stated that I was concerned that Mr. Forby was starting the story around the time when Ka’iulani was 12 or 13, which is shortly before she departs for England. By starting off that late in her life, we would see little of her life in Hawaii.
My fears were realized when I watched the film. Near the start, Kailani was forcibly whisked away to dreary England, where she spends most of the movie kissing face with Clive, the son of her wealthy guardian, and friend of her father, Theo Davies.
The greatest disappointment in this film was the complete lack of ALOHA. It did not feel Hawaiian, if you know what I mean. Princess Ka’iulani was a Princess of Hawaii, a young woman of royal blood from a mighty Polynesian lineage. If it wasn’t for the fact that I knew that portions of the picture were filmed in Iolani Palace, I would have honestly thought the entire thing was filmed in Europe!
There was very little in the film to suggest that Hawaii itself was a special place besides the fact that Ka’iulani was from there. When she storms out of the Davies estate in a rage and yells at Clive : “Do you think you mean more to me than my country?” the impact of those words are faint.
How is Hawaii important to her? Why would she care if the whole place did not exist when she sailed back years later? Why would we care?
Advertisers today go through great lengths to make people all over the world interested in Hawaii. The very name today conjures up images of a tropical paradise, a tangible Garden of Eden with gorgeous weather, pleasant atmosphere, an ancient and proud culture. I am quite sure all of that existed back in Ka’iulani’s day, probably moreso.
That is precisely why I think having scenes of Ka’iulani growing up in Hawaii should have been included. Imagine if we had seen Ka’iulani in a garden surrounded by the most beautiful tropical flowers, or surfing in crystal waters (Yes, she surfed) and swimming with colorful fish. Imagine if she had been riding her white pony past taro farms or groups of women stringing leis in the shade of a kou tree? The lack of scenes like that downplay Ka’iulani’s special connection with the islands. Disney’s Lilo and Stich does a better job at bringing out Hawaii’s character, and that’s saying a lot.
Another big disappointment in the film was that everything that made Ka’iulani a beloved Princess of Hawaii was stripped from the movie. How could they do a feature film of Ka’iulani without showing a single peacock? Or her banyan tree? Or her beloved Governess? Or Robert Louis Stevenson? It was like watching a movie about Cinderella without the lost slipper. The magic is gone.
The only special connection to Hawai’i that Ka’iulani has in the movie was the friendship of two twin boys who worked on the palace grounds. A relationship that I felt wasn’t strong at all. She is a princess of Hawai’i. Hawaii should have been her first love.
I have heard the controversy about Ka’iulani falling in love with Clive, and after seeing the movie, I can understand why.
It seemed that Ka’iulani and Clive fall in love far too fast and too easily in the film, it did not feel genuine. At all. Also, when Theo reveals to Ka’iulani that he hid her father’s telegrams from her because “You’re getting married!”, it was like a slap in the face. Did Theo forget that his charge was a Princess, the heir to the throne of an island nation? Beloved by thousands? Did he not think about the political impact that would have made?
The movie also made it seem that Ka’iulani did not miss Hawaii at all when she lived in England. I’m sure many college students in the Mainland and elsewhere who grew up in Hawaii would not believe that. I certainly did not!
There were many things in the film that I felt Ka’iulani would not have done, the least of which was comparing Hawaii and her political situation to a roasted chicken.
However, the film makes it clear that Ka’iulani fought for and won voting rights and US Citizenship for all people in Hawaii. In that case, President Obama should be grateful for the Princess’s efforts that would ultimately make him eligible for the presidency.
Overall, I felt that the film was less about the Princess and more of a political statement at the wrongs that Hawaii has suffered under the US. I understand that the overthrow of the Hawaiian government was a major part in Ka’iulani’s life, but it deserves a movie of its own.
The movie also was very short, which made it feel rushed. Some choices in cuts and camera angles also made it seem awkward. The acting left something to be desired as well. The man who played Koa was very underutilized. He would have been a great character as a rival for the throne as well as a love interest of Ka’iulani.
However, I can honestly say that the one great thing about this movie was Q’orianka Kilcher. She played the part of Ka’iulani wonderfully, and there were several times in the movie where I was just absolutely mesmerized by her. Her grace, her wit, her charm, all made the Princess a beautiful and believable character.
I disagree with all the people who were angry at Forby for using a non-Hawaiian actress. Q’orianka was absolutely perfect for the role! She is also similar to Ka’iulani in many ways. She too is half-indigenous, half-European (Swiss and Quechua), she advocates for the rights of indigenous people around the world, and also has a name that is absolutely gorgeous when pronounced correctly.
Despite Q’orianka’s stellar performance, overall, my impressions of the film are negative. True, I had a lot of high expectations, but I agree with the review of Susan Granger from Rotten Tomatoes, that” Marc Forby drains the inherent drama out of this true story, rendering it a one-dimensional period piece, suitable for the History Channel.”
There is no life in this film, no true deep emotions that make me admire Ka’iulani’s strength and cherish the story of her life. I wanted to cry, to feel, to care about this girl who was once the hope for a nation.
After four years, I got none of that.
