Ray Bumatai remembered at 'Sunday Wind' premiere
By Michael Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer
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Ray Bumatai's final film, "Sunday Wind," makes its premiere Wednesday at the Louis Vuitton Hawaii International Film Festival. The film, written, shot and produced by Shawn Hiatt and directed by Michael Wurth, screens 6:30 p.m. at Regal Dole Stadium 18.
Bumatai died last year of brain cancer. At the point the film was shot, the veteran actor could hardly see or walk, according to Wurth, "but he never backed down and turned in a performance none of us involved will ever forget."
The 14-minute film looks at the fate of Hawai'i civilians during the attack on Pearl Harbor and stars Shiro Kawai, Troy Ignacio and local filmmakers George Russell, Gerard Elmore and Michael Hennessy. "Sunday Wind" is one chapter in a larger project chronicling key moments in Hawai'i history through the eyes of one local family. HIFF info: www.hiff.org or 528-3456.
OH, MAN
Local-born filmmaker Kathleen Man returns to Honolulu this week for the screening of her latest film, "Sita, Girl From Jambu," at HIFF, and to meet with students at La Pietra — Hawaii School for Girls, where her mother, Margaret, serves as academic dean and college counselor.
"Sita," a documentary about child trafficking in Nepal, has screened at 23 other film festivals, earning six awards. Man's other films include the French-language "L'Entretien" and "Kind of a Blur," starring Sandra Oh. Man lives in Colorado, where she is a professor of film production at the University of Colorado at Boulder's Film Studies Program.
SHANG TSUNG SAID SO
When it comes to fiery pre-game speeches, there's just no beating the guy who played the heavy in "Mortal Kombat."
Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa did the honors in the Damien Memorial High locker-room before last Friday's football game against 'Iolani. While older fans may know Tagawa from his roles in "The Last Emperor," "Memoirs of a Geisha" and other films, the Damien players know him as Johnny Tsunami or, more often, as Shang Tsung from "Mortal Kombat." So when Tagawa wrapped up his speech with the film's now-immortal line — "Your soul is mine!" — the team went bonkers.
"They erupted with screaming and roaring," said Tagawa's representative, Pat Bigold. "It was a tidal wave of macho."
Tagawa has become a frequent visitor to Damien in the past year. During the game, he hung out on the sidelines, cheering loudly and hugging the players as they left the field.
His testosterone-fueled pep talk worked: Damien won the game. Afterward coach Dean Nakagawa presented Tagawa with the game ball.
GOOD FOR YOU?
It was a decent haul for ABC's "Lost" in the Golden Gasm Awards (sponsored by the TV and entertainment Web site TVgasm), announced this week.
While the show came up short in the best-drama category, losing to "24," it did take home two awards. The scene in which Michael (Harold Perrineau) killed Ana Lucia (Michelle Rodrigues) and Libby (Cynthia Watros) was singled out as TV's "Most Shocking Moment" of the year. Rodrigues' character also beat out a host of reality TV baddies — Tiffany of "Top Chef" Tyler of "Real World: Key West," the city of New York in "Flavor of Love," and Beth from "Real World/Road Rules Challenge: The Gauntlet" — for the coveted "Biggest Bitch" award.
Mama would be proud.
Reach Michael Tsai at mtsai@honoluluadvertiser.com.