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A story about motherhood, Back in the Water House follows mother-daughter artists Sulieti Fieme’a Burrows and Tui Emma Gillies as their relationship is further strengthened by tapa - a Tongan traditional cloth made from the inner bark of a mulberry tree.

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* The title Back in the Water House literally means "back to Falevai." Falevai is an island in Vava'u, Tonga. Fale translates to house in Tongan, and vai translates to water, hence water house.

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The film had the opportunity to be presented in festivals across the world including the Wairoa Maori Film Festival in New Zealand, the Nuku'alofa Film Festival in Nuku'alofa, Tonga, the Houston Asian American and Pacific Islander Film Festival in Houston, Texas, the Garifuna International Indigenous Film Festival in Venice, California, and the Ata| Vāsa Film Festival in London, England.  

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Directed and Produced by Pauline Adalid

Edited by Patrick Oxnam

Shot by Vincent Le Hetet

Audio and BTS by Matt Saunders

Colour by Aparajita Khetarpal 

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Featuring

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Sulieti Fieme'a Burrows

Tui Emma Gillies

Aroha Heilala Gillies

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