SIFF Day 7: Review (only 1 movie today)

An Island Calling (New Zealand) (Doc) : B+

The story happened in Fiji, where an affluent gay white couple were brutally murdered by a native Fijian man. Was it motivated by anti-gay sentiment, racial tension, personal history, or political conflict? (Half of the couple, John Scott, was the director of Fiji Red Cross and assisted a group of hostages during a then-recent coup.) John's brother Owen was a driving force behind this excellent documentary, and he provided a strong sense of emotional resonance without ever coming from grudge or revenge. The movie took its time exploring the history of the Fiji society, allowing the story to unfold naturally as we learn about its background setting. The result was powerful, sensible, and thought-provoking.