This film, Ña Noniep, the first children's film in the Marshallese language (with English subtitles), was released for public distribution in December of 2019 because those of us involved with Microwave Films and the making of this movie felt the need to bring some joy to our people because of a dual outbreak of dengue fever and a horrific flu virus that left many of our little children sick at home over a period of 4 months. At this same time over 200 people were displaced from their homes because of wave inundations during the end of November. It has not been an easy time for us, climate change is not just rising sea levels, it also involves disease outbreaks.
About the film:
Ña Noniep deals with the spiritual battle between a ri-anijnij (an evil Marshallese maker of black magic) and a noniep (a Marshallese fairy-like creature) for the soul of a 13-year old boy, Liki.
The film portrays Liki as an "off-the-chart" brilliant student who can solve math problems without using pencil or paper and who can read a thick novel in a few days.
His goal is to attend high school in America. Through no fault of his own, after a serious car accident involving his father and the family of his best friend, Miko, Liki finds his life threatened by Miko's evil grandmother, Lijimu, who is a woman known throughout the islands as a horribly diabolical maker of black magic.
Lijimu casts a spell on Liki, and this drives the unusually nice, polite and studious boy, insane. Only the noniep can help him, but first the noniep must overcome the enormous power of the evil Lijimu.
This enchanting battle is waged before the eyes of the boy's parents, Tomi and Delia, his best friend Miko, and his classmates who are all powerless to help him as he descends into a hellish existence. They are forced to watch as Liki deteriorates at an alarmingly rapid pace fighting an illness that no doctor or hospital can cure.
The Marshallese language film, with English subtitles, stars Randon Jack, Lulani Ritok, Kyle Trevor, Netha Gideon, Matiti Johnson, Alson Kelen and Sarah Enyeart.
All of the music in the film was performed by four eighth-grade girls -- Kery Ann Lejjena, Carly Ann Note, Lulani Note and Cinderella Lajidrik -- from the Majuro Cooperative School (MCS), a private, secular school presently serving grades pre-K through 9th.
The film was written, directed and produced by Jack Niedenthal. Suzanne Chutaro served as assistant producer and director.
All proceeds from Ña Noniep were given to the Majuro Cooperative School.
The movie opened to the public at the 3-plex K & K Theaters, in Majuro, on March 6, 2009, was overwhelmingly popular and ran for several weeks.
The film is dedicated to the late Mayor of Bikini Atoll, Kataejar Jibas, who died on October 2, 2008, from injuries resulting from a car accident, and to the late SGT Solomon T. Sam, who was the first Marshallese soldier killed in Iraq on December 8, 2008.
Men otemjej rej ilo bein Anij.