This film, YOKWE BARTOWE, is the second film of the "Lijimu Trilogy" (ÑA NONIEP is the first film, LAÑINBWIL'S GIFT the third in the series, though each film can stand alone and be understood without having seen the other films). This is a film about a single Marshallese word, "Yokwe" (also spelled "iakwe" and "iokwe"), which translated can mean "hello," "good bye" and "love," similar to the Hawaiian word "Aloha," but it can also be used to convey sadness towards someone or a situation, and that is the ultimate context for the word in this film. This film in the Marshallese language (with English subtitles), was released for public distribution on March 2 of 2020 on the day we celebrated Nuclear Victims Day in the RMI because those of us involved with Microwave Films and the making of this movie again felt the need to bring some joy to our people because of our ongoing battle with an outbreak of dengue fever, while at the same time we are furiously trying to prepare our country for the onset of the COVID-19 virus, which at this time has not reached our shores but has already spread to 67 countries around the world. These last 8 months have not been an easy time for us, climate change is not just rising sea levels, it also involves disease outbreaks. As the author of this screenplay, I would have to say that this is my favorite of all of the stories that I have written so far.
About the film:
From the creators of the film Ña Noniep comes a film that explores the Yokwe spirit of the Marshallese culture and people.
Yokwe Bartowe is the story of a beautiful young island girl named Lijiamao who is kidnapped by an evil demon bird. The ancient legend of the 'kwolej' bird dictates that its main mission in life is to create sorrow and misfortune in the world. Bartowe is Lijiamao's 20-year-old brother and he was supposed to be watching his sister on the day she mysteriously vanished while swimming in the lagoon. He is blamed for her disappearance by his mother. Even though most people believe that Lijiamao has drowned, the fact that no one ever found her body in extremely shallow water has everyone puzzled. Only Lijiamao's best friend Tili refuses to believe she is dead, much to the dismay of her principal, her teacher and her classmates.
The story follows the life of Bartowe on the first anniversary of his sister's disappearance. He is trying to cope with the hatred of his mother for not taking good care of Lijiamao and the deterioration of his relationship with his steady girlfriend and fellow college student, Kaila. The immense sorrow in his life drives him to drinking and disillusionment, which eventually causes him to become the enemy of a local island gang. Just when his life seems to be heading toward complete disaster, hope comes from an unexpected source: Lijimu. The old woman, who is despised by the island community because she's believed to be a sorceress and capable of performing powerful black magic, attempts to come to the young man's rescue.
The film stars Lyel Tarkwon, Netha Gideon, Martha Horiuchi, Nica Wase, Jefferson Paulis and Billma Melson. The film was shot on location in Majuro Atoll and Bikini Atoll in the Marshall Islands, and in Springdale, Arkansas, United States. Yokwe Bartowe contains several new musical compositions along with some old time favorites performed by Nica Wase, Lulani Ritok, Nelu de Brum, Mattu Lejjena, Lyel Tarkwon and Lucus Niedenthal.
All theater and DVD 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 January 29, 2010, was overwhelmingly popular and ran for several weeks.
Men otemjej rej ilo bein Anij.