Maui's Hook

The youth suicide rate in New Zealand is twice that of the United States, and five times that of Britain, while Maori men are almost 50% more likely to commit suicide than non-Maori, making suicide one of the most pressing social issues facing the country today. Speaking to this crisis directly in one of the most original and stirring films released this year, psychologist and filmmaker Paora Joseph journeys New Zealand’s North Island with families who lost someone close to them to suicide. Seamlessly combining scripted narrative sections with interviews of five brave families mourning the loss of a loved one, Joseph blurs the divide between documentary and drama to make a profound statement about suicide and the people left behind. (Hawaii International Film Festival)