''Sione's Wedding'' (also marketed outside New Zealand as ''Samoan Wedding'') is a 2006 New Zealand

comedic Comedy is a genre of fiction that consists of discourses or works intended to be humorous or amusing by inducing laughter, especially in theatre, film, stand-up comedy, television, radio, books, or any other entertainment medium. The term o ...

film directed by Chris Graham and written by James Griffin and

Oscar Kightley Oscar Vai To'elau Kightley (born 14 September 1969) is a Samoan-born New Zealand actor, television presenter, writer, journalist, director, and comedian. He acted in and co-wrote the successful 2006 film ''Sione's Wedding''. Biography Kightley ...

, and produced by

South Pacific Pictures South Pacific Pictures is a New Zealand television production company. The company produces drama series, mini-series, telemovies and feature films for the domestic market and international market. SPP's largest property is ''Shortland Street'' ...

Plot

Set in

Auckland Auckland (pronounced ) ( mi, Tāmaki Makaurau) is a large metropolitan city in the North Island of New Zealand. The most populous urban area in the country and the fifth largest city in Oceania, Auckland has an urban population of about ...

, New Zealand, the film centres around four Samoan boys: ladies' man Michael, party boy Sefa, good boy Albert, and weird Stanley, who although they are in their mid 20s to early 30s have a reputation for behaving immaturely at special occasions such as family weddings. After four particular incidents (Michael having sex with one of the bridesmaids in the wedding limousine; Albert dropping the bride while she was hoisted up on his shoulder; Sefa getting drunk and passing out while going through the wedding cake and the table; and Stanley setting a reception hall on fire), the local minister of their Samoan church rules that the four are to be banned from the wedding of Michael's brother, Sione. This is hard news for the boys, especially since Michael was supposed to be the best man, however Albert comes up with a solution – bring a date to the wedding. He proposes to the minister that being with a girl at the wedding would force the men to be on their best behaviour. The minister allows them to go but requires that the boys must have a serious relationship with their dates or Eugene (the groom at the wedding where the reception hall burned) will forcibly block them. While the boys think it is an easy plan, they soon realise that finding a girlfriend is not as easy as it looks, especially since the wedding is just one month away.

Cast

as Albert *

Shimpal Lelisi Shimpal Lelisi (born ) is a New Zealand actor and TV presenter, best known as one of the members of the Naked Samoans. Biography Born in Niue, Shimpal came to New Zealand at the age of four. He began acting at an early age, taking part in scho ...

as Sefa *

Robbie Magasiva Robbie Joseph Magasiva (born 21 May 1972) is a Samoan-New Zealander actor who has starred in several films and as a member of the Naked Samoans comedy troupe. He has also appeared on television and in theatre, and was the co-presenter of New Z ...

as Michael * Iaheto Ah Hi as Stanley *

David Fane David Rodney Fane (born 28 December 1966) is a New Zealand actor of Samoan descent. Early life and education Fane was educated at St. Pauls College in Grey Lynn. Career Fane got into acting quite late and trained at the New Zealand Drama ...

as Paul *

Pua Magasiva Pua Magasiva (10 August 1980 – 11 May 2019) was a New Zealand actor of Samoan descent, best known for his roles as Shane Clarke, the Red Ranger from '' Power Rangers Ninja Storm'', and Vinnie Kruse in the soap opera '' Shortland Street'', b ...

as Sione *

Nathaniel Lees Nathaniel Lees is a New Zealand theatre actor and director and film actor of Samoan descent, best known for film roles in ''The Matrix Reloaded'', '' The Matrix Revolutions'' and '' The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers'' and for starring in '' Y ...

as Minister * David Van Horn as Derek *

Teuila Blakely Teuila Blakely (born 12 January 1975) is a Samoan-born New Zealand actress, best known for her roles in '' Shortland Street'', '' Sione's Wedding'', '' Sione's 2: Unfinished Business'', '' Filthy Rich'', and ''Power Rangers Beast Morphers''. E ...

as Leilani *

John Tui John Tui (pronounced ''two-we''; born 11 June 1975) is a New Zealand actor of Tongan descent. He is known for his roles as Anubis "Doggie" Cruger in '' Power Rangers S.P.D.'' and as Daggeron in ''Power Rangers Mystic Force'', both filmed in his ...

as Tavita *

Madeleine Sami Madeleine Nalini Sami is a New Zealand actress, director, comedian and musician. She started her acting career in theatre before moving to television, where she created, wrote, and starred in ''Super City''. She co-wrote, co-directed, and starr ...

as Tania * Maryjane McKibbin-Schwenke as Princess *

Victoria Schmidt Victoria Schmidt is a New Zealand theater, film and television actress. She is most known for her role as ''Aaliyah'' in '' Sione's Wedding'' (2006). She is also a playwright. Biography Schmidt was born and raised in South Auckland, New Zealand ...

as Aaliyah

Sequel

In March 2011, it was confirmed that filming was soon to begin on a sequel, titled: '' Sione's 2: Unfinished Business'' that was to be released in January 2012. The film was written by James Griffin and Oscar Kightley and may deal with the subject of death.

Soundtrack

Copyright violation case

The film is also well known for a high-profile court case over breach of

copyright law A copyright is a type of intellectual property that gives its owner the exclusive right to copy, distribute, adapt, display, and perform a creative work, usually for a limited time. The creative work may be in a literary, artistic, educatio ...

. An employee of a post-production company was found guilty and sentenced to 300 hours community service. Film producer John Barnett estimates the movie lost $500,000 in lost box office takings and DVD sales.

References

External links

Official film siteSione's Wedding trailer
on

NZ On Screen NZ On Screen is a state-funded online promotional showcase of New Zealand television and film. Funded by NZ On Air, it provides free worldwide access to NZ-produced television, film and music videos. Content is streamed and the webpages provide ...

* * {{Amg movie, 375440, Sione's Wedding New Zealand comedy films 2006 comedy films 2006 films Films set in Auckland 2000s English-language films