Return To Tuvalu - A Peace Corps Story

Video Description

Talofa. Hello. We are pleased and grateful to share this 72-minute film with the world. Two Returned Peace Corps Volunteers return to the small Pacific island country of Tuvalu 37 years after the conclusion of their service. Scott and Myra bring their now adult sons to Nukulaelae, an island of roughly 300 people, to experience the unique and beautiful culture of the place they called home for nearly 3 years. On their journey they face unpredictable travel schedules by sea and forces of nature that almost prevent them from reaching their coveted destination. Through challenges of uncertainty the family turns to their Tuvaluan friends, appreciating the beauty of the islands and catching up on a generation of missed time together. This is a story of human empathy and the value of cultural exchange, as well as a philosophical look into mankind’s relationship with nature, the prospect of climate change, and a celebration of the Peace Corps. Directed and narrated by their youngest son, Nick, this is an attempt to tell a deeply personal story with far fewer resources than a typical documentary film. All images are from a GoPro camera, a Mavic Mini drone, old photographs from the 1980’s, and recent cell phone footage of tropical weather events. Fakafetai. Thank you to all who participated or contributed to this video. We hope you enjoy. Alofa atu. WRITTEN AND DIRECTED BY : Nick Erickson EDITED BY : Nick Erickson MOTION PHOTOGRAPHY : Nick Erickson, Andrew Erickson, Scott Erickson ADDITIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY: Tusi Tapuaiga SPECIAL THANKS TO : Bikenibeu Paeniu Foketi Paeniu Toeupu Nivaga Makaga Toematagi Leopold Paeniu Tusela Makaga Tagisia Toematagi Efata Mau Toematagi Talauila Toematagi Teauli Selau Toematagi Tamiloga Toematagi Silo Afelee Falema Pita Lita Afelee Falema Afelee Stephanie Schreck OUR FAMILY WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE FOLLOWING FOR THEIR PARTICIPATION: (Due to limit of characters please see full list at 01:11:43) MUSIC: “MAI TOU LEI MO MATOU IESU” ENGLISH: ”BECAUSE OF YOUR GOODNESS TO US, JESUS” WRITTEN AND PERFORMED BY THE CHOIR OF THE CHURCH OF TUVALU FROM THE ALBUM TUVALU: A POLYNESIAN ATOLL SOCIETY COURTESY OF PAN RECORDS “DAYS IN HOSPITAL” WRITTEN AND PERFORMED BY THE MANU TAGI MALIE GROUP FROM THE ALBUM TUVALU: A POLYNESIAN ATOLL SOCIETY COURTESY OF PAN RECORDS “TĀLOFA KOUTOU KATOA I TE PO NEI” ENGLISH: “WELCOME TO EVERYONE HERE TONIGHT” WRITTEN AND PERFORMED BY YOUTH CHOIR OF FUNAFUTI FROM THE ALBUM TUVALU: A POLYNESIAN ATOLL SOCIETY COURTESY OF PAN RECORDS “ALTITUDE” WRITTEN AND PERFORMED BY MUTED COURTESY OF ARTLIST.IO “AQUARIUS” WRITTEN AND PERFORMED BY SPEARFISHER COURTESY OF ARTLIST.IO “SAUTALAGA A TAUTAI” WRITTEN AND PERFORMED BY STARCHEL SOLOSENI “DOWSTREAM” WRITTEN AND PERFORMED BY MUTED COURTESY OF ARTLIST.IO “PEACEFUL MIND” WRITTEN AND PERFORMED BY BORRTEX COURTESY OF ARTLIST.IO “HOPE” WRITTEN AND PERFORMED BY BORRTEX COURTESY OF ARTLIST.IO “UNWANTED TEARS” WRITTEN AND PERFORMED BY PHILIP DANIEL ZACH COURTESY OF ARTLIST.IO “ETERNITY” WRITTEN AND PERFORMED BY BORRTEX COURTESY OF ARTLIST.IO “HOPE (NO PIANO)” WRITTEN AND PERFORMED BY IAN POST COURTESY OF ARTLIST.IO “MEMORY AND FORGETTING (CELLO VERSION)” WRITTEN AND PERFORMED BY SPEARFISHER COURTESY OF ARTLIST.IO “TE ASO GALI” ENGLISH: “THE SPLENDID DAY” WRITTEN AND PERFORMED BY NIUTAO PEOPLE LIVING IN FAKAIFOU FROM THE ALBUM TUVALU: A POLYNESIAN ATOLL SOCIETY COURTESY OF PAN RECORDS “FEELING” WRITTEN AND PERFORMED BY BORRTEX COURTESY OF ARTLIST.IO “BEING GRATEFUL” WRITTEN AND PERFORMED BY BORRTEX COURTESY OF ARTLIST.IO “COURAGE” WRITTEN AND PERFORMED BY BORRTEX COURTESY OF ARTLIST.IO “KALAGA ATU TE LEO KI A LUPE” ENGLISH: “A VOICE IS CALLING LUPE, BIRD, IT’S YOUR TURN TO GO” WRITTEN AND PERFORMED BY FAAFOI ASUELU FROM THE ALBUM TUVALU: A POLYNESIAN ATOLL SOCIETY COURTESY OF PAN RECORDS “A TE OLAGA NEI” ENGLISH: “THIS LIFE” WRITTEN AND PERFORMED BY WOMEN’S CHOIR FROM VAIAKU FROM THE ALBUM TUVALU: A POLYNESIAN ATOLL SOCIETY COURTESY OF PAN RECORDS “SILENCE” WRITTEN AND PERFORMED BY BORRTEX COURTESY OF ARTLIST.IO “COLD” WRITTEN AND PERFORMED BY BORRTEX COURTESY OF ARTLIST.IO “ONE MOMENT” WRITTEN AND PERFORMED BY BORRTEX COURTESY OF ARTLIST.IO “BURST” WRITTEN AND PERFORMED BY BORRTEX COURTESY OF ARTLIST.IO “BRAVE” WRITTEN AND PERFORMED BY BORRTEX COURTESY OF ARTLIST.IO “BETTER NOW” WRITTEN AND PERFORMED BY PHILIP DANIEL ZACH COURTESY OF ARTLIST.IO “TOFA TAKU PELE” WRITTEN AND PERFORMED BY VANIAH TOLOA FROM THE ALBUM TAUTAI OE COURTESY OF KEILA RECORDS IG: https://instagram.com/realnickerickson?r=nametag #peacecorps #rpcv #tuvalu #atoll #gopro #traveldocumentary #nature #southpacific #climatechange #culture #goprovideo #polynesian