FILI | Omeleto

A high school grad is torn between playing football or following his passion.
FILI is used with permission from Peter Filimaua. Learn more at filifilms.com.
Fili Tanuvasa has just graduated from high school with a bright future ahead of him. A gifted athlete, he's set to follow in his father's footsteps as a football player, and his family and his close-knit Samoan community expect great things and much success from Fili.
But Fili has another side to him. He has a secret desire to act and explore his creativity. He's gone so far as to apply to an acting program and gotten in. But when it comes time to pick a path, he's still torn between following his heart and honoring his family and culture.
Directed and written by Peter Filimaua, this short drama follows the coming-of-age of a young man torn between familial and community expectations and a desire to explore his identity and interests outside of those confines.
The storytelling deftly sets up the fundamental conflicts that pull at Fili. We see him in his athletic milieu, where he excels. Here, he enjoys the love and support of his father and the excitement of his community, which celebrates his talent and success on the field. There's an intensity in Fili's training, especially when he's coached by his dad, who has much invested in Fili's success.
The writing also explores Fili's burgeoning creative desires for acting, portrayed in a more cloistered visual register. These longings are more secret, and something Fili feels like his family and community won't understand. Actor Joshua Leomiti not only conveys Fili's energy, dynamic character and deep love for his family and culture, but also his divided loyalties. As he's pulled between the different dimensions of his life, he needs the support of his family more than ever.
Compelling, sensitive and compassionate, FILI works well because it understands why Fili's choice is so difficult, showing how both sports and the arts bring out something valuable and important for him. As an athlete, Fili has learned strength, confidence and camaraderie. He's a caring, loving son who loves his family and culture. But he's still finding his footing as a young person, and part of that is exploring who he is outside his athletic prowess, his family and his culture. In the end, he learns the choice doesn't have to be so stark, and that he can move into a future of his own making while still holding what and who he loves close to his heart.

[@PeterFilimaua]

Hi everyone, I'm Peter Filimaua, the writer & director of FILI. Thanks so much for watching, this film was inspired by my experience growing up in the Samoan culture. Feel free to ask any questions and I hope you enjoy the film!

[@hank1519]

It's a wonderful film! Thank you!

[@christinesorensen8050]

What a great film!! 🎥 It shows growing pains, lack of communication which later gets corrected - all with the love that mom & dad and Fili have for each other. Without making anyone the ‘bad guy’ it shows the progression of life and how it can be when life is taking a different path than what was expected.

[@MattyBeavs]

This was amazing! this being my first time seeing this and going to film school with Peter I am super proud of my friend and all my friends who worked on this!

[@-svet-ka-]

I think this is more about Vaea's evolution, acceptance and respect for his son, rather than Fili's choices and decisions. It was way more difficult for Vaea to accept that his son will not fulfil his (Vaea's) dreams and chooses his own path, than for Fili to go against his dad's wishes.

[@eugenetswong]

That's a great insight. Even the mom played an interesting role here. I think not every story has to feature the protagonist the most. In other words, the character making the decisions doesn't have to be featured the most. It could be the father of that featured character. You can see this in the children's story, "Annabelle's Wish", where neither Annabelle nor her friends made any significantly challenging choices...and yet, the story was still very beautiful. I think that the grandpa of her friend made the difficult choice for that friend, who was his grandson. I'm so pleased to offer up this nice comment early, because I usually say only negative things about most Omeleto films.

[@-svet-ka-]

@@eugenetswong I agree that all characters are important, not just the protagonist. Often they explain the protagonist's character and behaviour. I also agree that the mom here is the wisest from the start. At the end all three of them make the right choices, but Sefina knew the right answers from the start and she supported both of them. I liked the moment when them three were on stage in front of guests, then Fili left and Vaea followed, Sefina stayed to "hold the fort". This shows that they trust each other to cover their backs and the mom does it all the time, it seems.

[@jivanvasant]

A thespian in the family is not a loss. Fili has the passion to be a actor. Robin Williams and Christopher Reeve were fellow students at the Julliard School Drama Program in Manhattan, New York City, and they remained life-long friends.

[@sgold989]

Beautiful short and majestic work. Keep them coming. Congrats!!!

[@PeterFilimaua]

Thanks for watching!

[@user-vt6xv1xi9n]

Fili's an actor,has a huge tattoo on his arm that's definitely Dwayne junior

[@koredesoyinka]

I love it ❤

[@jannariley3254]

Great to see other cultures 👏 👏 👏

[@eugenetswong]

I agree in this instance. I wish that they would have put some effort into communicating which culture it was, and the location. The culture wasn't central to the story, so a quick message at the beginning of the story would have helped to educate me.

[@user-McGiver]

@@eugenetswong Samoans, they are from Samoa... I came down to the comments section to find out the same, and some dude further down said it...

[@eugenetswong]

@@user-McGiver Thank you, McGiver!

[@aarons7975]

I don't know how many times I have seen this growing up. The parent wants to live vicariously thru their kid, they want the kid to become something they wish they were, they never were, they were but are no longer etc, and don't even want to hear what the kid wants to do. Unfortunately I have also seen time and time again where it DOES cause a rift in the family, when the child chooses a different path than dad did. The child / now man wants to be their OWN person, carve their OWN destiny and story, not just be known as, so and so's kid, but the parents selfishness tries to squash that. This isn't just a Samoan thing, this is a growing up thing period. Very well created film, portrays very vividly the pain and suffering and anguish the child goes thru, seeing every day, the disappointment their parents show when they want to go down a different path, and how it hurts THEM too, seeing their parents disappointed in them. In the end he did the right thing, did what HE wanted to do, followed HIS passion and not dads, which would have just made him miserable the rest of his life, and then filled with regret, well if I would have done what I wanted to etc etc. Very good movie, I liked it.

[@PeterFilimaua]

Thanks for watching. Glad the story resonated with you!

[@user-vt6xv1xi9n]

Is it just me or does Fili look like the Rock

[@user-wf2go2cl7r]

Just amazing!! This is a topic that is highly relevant in today's time especially in asian countries..I as a student can relate to this..

[@PeterFilimaua]

Thanks for watching! Yes, it's a theme that unfortunately happens in families from all backgrounds

[@MichaelMurphy-kj3xf]

Great movie - the writing, acting and filming are all excellent. One question - how did you decide that Fili was a linebacker? He looks more like a safety. Now the Dad on the other hand - he looks like he could play in the NFL today! Congratulations on a great film!

[@LuisBernal0730]

Great film!!

[@PeterFilimaua]

Thanks for watching!

[@arcingcat]

Parents cannot live out their lives through their children. Everyone has their career passion and desires and many times it is completely different from what their parents did. Parents should just be supportive of whatever career path their children decide to go into.

[@christinesorensen8050]

And they were supportive! It just took a little time for getting used to a completely different idea, because Fili had not communicated anything about his true desires to his parents.

[@Islander91]

Nice film !! Beautiful message

[@PeterFilimaua]

Thanks for watching!

[@mikedashit6948]

samoa

[@durasaxon5131]

My Dad pressured me not to take a State Government job that was offered to me after 2 years of College. I scored the 3rd highest score in the State and I was offered the position. My Dad literally threatened me not to take the position but to finish my studies. I made the wrong decision because of him. Steady pay and benefits. The State Govt would have paid for me to complete my education. This is a real to life film. Sure, i graduated College but i struggled for years after graduation. _____

[@jime6739]

Great dancing at the end?

[@dthomas4566]

This hit in the feels, but I'll be damned if he's going to acting school over foolsball, all that time and money, Fili better Minor in Acting and Major in head hitting 😅

[@dancingtrout6719]

Dick Butkus # 51 CHICAGO BEARS Loved American Football.. He Was a tiny Bit Aggressive He intimidated entire teams and i mean good winning Teams It got real tough on the field the coaches were wondering what was going on. players walking off the field Limping......Butkus

[@northerners2828]

Filifinians

[@Tanyalakergurl]

American Samoan

[@qubits-vf5bg]

Go damn