by Amanda Webster
Worth: $17.00
FilmInk rates movies out of $20 — the score indicates the amount we believe a ticket to the movie to be worth
Cast:
Pene Pati, Amitai Pati, Asiata Pene Pati Snr, Iulieta Pati, Torres Pati, Evangeline Fa’anenefu Taylor-Pati
Intro:
… powerful and deeply affecting …
Tenor: My name is Pati traces the inspirational rise of Samoan-born New Zealand brothers Pene and Amitai Pati, from singing in a small island church to commanding the stages of the world’s greatest opera houses. Compared to Pavarotti for the emotion, clarity and colour of his voice, elder brother Pene emerges as a once‑in‑a‑generation talent whose trajectory feels both destined and hard‑won.
The film follows the brothers from their early days performing as a family troupe in aged‑care homes in New Zealand, to international success as part of Sol3 MIO, the platinum‑selling operatic-pop group formed with their friend Moses Mackay. The documentary explores the Samoan values that shaped them; honouring family, sustaining culture, and the courage, that came from discipline, to pursue a dream that felt impossibly far from home.
Written, directed and produced by Kiwi filmmaker Rebecca Tansley, this feature documentary is a classic underdog story filled with powerful and deeply affecting performances by Pene including his acclaimed rendition of ‘Nessun Dorma’ from Turandot, for which he won an Opus Klassik. It’s a triumph of spirit and passion: against every adversity, the brothers’ undeniable talent propels them to leading roles on the world’s most prestigious opera stages.
A moving portrait of family, resilience and cultural pride, Tenor: My Name is Pati celebrates not just a voice, but a legacy.
