On the afternoon of Nov. 16, accompanied by vocalists and a live Polynesian orchestra, the Disney film “Moana” was screened at the Arlington Theatre in downtown Santa Barbara. Presented by UC Santa Barbara’s Arts & Lectures, Moana Live-To-Film was open to the public, welcoming many generations to enjoy the performance.
Before the performance began, main vocalist Nina Sosefina prefaced the audience with expected etiquette. She encouraged members of the audience to stand up from their seats to sing and dance when they felt the need. Considering a majority of the audience were children, excitement fell over the crowd. Additionally, a call and response was proposed by Sosefina. She explained that every time the film uttered the celebratory Polyensian word “chee hoo,” the members of the audience should respond with their own “chee hoo,” creating an immersive experience for the exhilarated and anticipation-filled crowd.
Courtesy of Isaac Hernandez de Lipa
As the Disney logo came on screen, the voice of Sosefina arose along with the sounds of drums, percussions, woodwinds and strings. Sosefina beautifully sang the opening Samoan song “Tulou Tagaloa” as the film introduced the protagonist Moana.
Disney’s 2016 feature film “Moana” follows a young Polynesian teenager who is chosen by the ocean to return the stolen heart of goddess Te Fiti. Along her journey, she meets the demigod Maui, who helps her with her endeavors. The film is a musical, with a variety of songs to guide the audience through Moana’s journey. Some of these hits include: “How Far I’ll Go,” “You’re Welcome” and “Shiny.” However, for the Moana Live-To-Film, the cast focused not on performing these hits, but performing the score and Samoan-lyric songs — focusing on the beauty of Polyensian sound.
As the film played, the sounds of the score were amplified by Vaea Aʻetonu for vocals and guitar, Kai Kalama on drums and percussion, Lauren Kosty, Erica Kika Parra, Anthony Kauka Stanley and Sioeli Tameifuna on percussion and Lester Paredes on woodwind. During the chaotic and tense fight scene between minor antagonists, Kakamora, Moana and Maui, a piece titled “Kakamora” plays — accentuating Polyensian sounds of drums and percussion. Each beat was coordinated with a flicker of colored lights, adding to the scene’s intensity. As Kalama would hit his drum to “Kakamora,” the lighting turned blue; and just as the drum was hit again, the lighting changed to yellow — creating a captivating visual experience.
This experience was magnified as the emotional scene between Moana and her departed grandmother, Gramma Tala, relayed on screen. Throughout this scene, the song entitled “I Am Moana (Song of the Ancestors)” is sung. This song consists of light sounds of percussion as Gramma Tala sings to Moana, reminding her of her worth. Considering how emotional the scene was without live performances, the sentimentalism shined as the orchestra played along.
As Moana sang her part in the song, the live Polyensian sound grew louder, signifying her reconnection with her identity, ancestors and culture. Sosefina flawlessly conveyed these emotions through her performance of the ensemble lyrics in the song. She sang “lei Ki Na,” translating to “It’s all there with you” — emanating the powerful message of the film. The whole audience was glued to the magic of the performance as the resolution of the movie approached.
The end of the film is yet another impassioned moment. As Moana returns Te Fiti’s heart, she sings a melody to the goddess called “Know Who You Are.” Accompanied with Moana’s vocals, are the ensemble’s singing in a mixture of Polyensian languages. In this live performance, Sosefina, Aʻetonu and Kalama sing the ensemble’s lyrics alluringly, capturing the meaningful closing to the film.
The sound is mellow yet hopeful, leading to the joyful ending. The Polynesian lyrics reflect this, singing: “Ou mata e matagi / Ou loto mamaina toa / Manatu atu / Taku pelepele / Manatunatu” which translates to “I have crossed the horizon to find you / I know your name / They have stolen the heart from inside you / But this does not define you / This is not who you are.”
Courtesy of Isaac Hernandez de Lipa
The live performance transcended the film’s message through sound and ethereal singing, allowing the audience to be immersed completely in the story. Not only was the message delivered, but the emotion from the live vocals and instruments synced with the lighting made the viewing experience immaculate.
At the end of the performance, the audience gave a warm applause to the performers. A final bow was given as the audience cheered from their seats. Moana Live-To-Film was more than a screening, it was a riveting musical and visual experience, transporting the audience to the world of “Moana” and its Polyensian sound.
