Red, White & Brass
When Maka and his friends fail to secure tickets to the sold-out Rugby World Cup match between Tonga and France, they hastily create a brass marching band to gain access to the stadium. Based on a true story and from the producers of Hunt for the Wilderpeople.
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Red, White & Brass is the ultimate fake-it-until-you-make-it story. After failing to secure tickets to the Tonga vs. France Rugby World Cup game, superfan Maka finds his own way in by volunteering his church’s brass band as the halftime entertainment. If only his church HAD a brass band. With only four weeks until the game, Maka’s community rallies their minimal resources to keep up the charade, but somewhere along the way it becomes less about watching the match and more about properly representing Tonga on an international stage. First-time feature director Damon Fepulea’i brings the unbelievable true story to life with the same dry New Zealand humor you would find in fellow Kiwi and executive producer Taika Waititi’s films. This feel-good sports (-adjacent) comedy is a celebration of community, culture, and māfana, a Tongan word describing the feeling of emotion so strong you have to dance and scream.
—Mackenzie Wardlow
- Director: Damon Fepulea’i (Samoan)
- Principal Cast: John-Paul Foliaki, Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi, Michael (Mikey) Falesiu, Onetoto Ikavuka, Lupeti Finau
- Country: New Zealand
- Year: 2023
- Running Time: 85 min.
- Producer: Georgina Conder, Morgan Waru, Halaifonua Finau
- Screenplay: Halaifonua Finau, Damon Fepulea'i
- Cinematographers: Andrew McGeorge
- Editors: Ben Powdrell, Paul Maxwell, Damon Fepulea’i
- Music: Three Houses Down
- Website: Official Film Website
- Filmography: Debut Feature Film
- Language: Tongan, English
- Has Subtitles: Yes
- International Sales: Piki Films