Rebecca Tansley filmed a captivating documentary about tenor Pene Pati, who grew into an international star and grew up in the midst of a singing family for whom the concept of 'opera' was an absolute unknown.
In Samoa, his native country, people sing a great deal in a very traditional way, but opera was – or is? – not part of that. Why 'was'? Because a young adult Pene, blessed with a rich, warm, supple, high tenor voice, discovered opera through La Bohème. The death scene of Mimi and how her beloved says goodbye? That's what Pene wanted to sing. His decision was firm: "I'm going to be an opera singer and I'm going to sing that lead role". He is not the first professional musician with a world career whose parents heard / hear something like "A musician? Are you crazy or something? You can't make a living for a wife and child with that!" from father, mother and everyone around them. Pene Pati had to hear it too, but his determination? He succeeded.
The film tells the incredible story of the charismatic Samoan opera star Pene Pati, who grew up in simplicity and rose to – and continues to perform at – the world's greatest opera stages. No Samoan had done this before him and it seemed impossible, but yes, what is impossible, especially if you're a perseverer even without 'Western discipline'... Pene Pati is considered the opera discovery of the 2015/2025 decade. Covid 19 was of course a setback – for whom wasn't it? – but he was able to continue building his career. From the very beginning when he started singing, people repeatedly compared him to none other than Luciano Pavarotti (1935-2007) and that comparison is apt. Pene's singing was infectious, certainly through his rapid local success, and his brother Amitai, an almost equally accomplished tenor, and his cousin began singing 'Mama' as a trio in Samoa for packed halls.
The film shows Pene Pati's remarkable rise from the islands of Samoa in the Pacific Ocean, via South Auckland, New Zealand, to the world's greatest opera stages. It's a rise that seemed almost impossible for a boy from Samoa, but people with ears and the necessary connections gave the motivated Pene the necessary push forward. In the film you get to know more than just a singer. You meet a wonderful human being. Very sensitive, emotional, a man full of Love not only for his wife, but for his family, his traditions, his origins, his people. He has an engaging charisma, always laughs, shows friendship and weeps, as it were, with 'his' Bohème and so much more.
Pene Pati and his brother are big names on the classical stages and look what happened, opera is no longer unknown in Samoa. Pati, who has a very strong bond with Samoan culture and who experiences and promotes it very consciously, notably shares his success with his family. Family, that is the core of his people. A very beautiful thing that can sometimes get out of hand, but well, there's always 'something' everywhere and perfection doesn't exist in humanity. Tansley shows plenty of images from Pene Pati's family life at home and weaves them together with his career. It makes the documentary into a vivid story and you feel involved and at times moved. Many viewers will certainly wipe away a tear. Get behind your laptop / pc and surf to the documentary. You won't regret it and rejoice in this tenor in a million.
Documentary by Rebecca Tansley (New Zealand 2026, 80 min), broadcast by HD | ARTE
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