“For the first time in a long time I feel slightly overwhelmed, but in a good way, I look around and see everyone who has come in support” – Pene Pati.
A new documentary about a Samoan opera singer is striking a chord with audiences across Aotearoa.
“Tenor: My Name is Pati” follows renowned Samoan Tenor Pene Pati of Sol3 Mio fame as he navigates his way through the world of international opera.
Since it opened back in March it has already earned over $1million at the New Zealand box office, a record for a documentary with a cinema release in this country.
At the film’s premier earlier this year, the Europe based singer returned to join friends, family and the producers of the film at Sky City Cinema.
“For the first time in a long time I feel slightly overwhelmed, but in a good way, I look around and see everyone who has come in support.” Pati said
Having grown up in Māngere, Pene and younger brother Amitai, also a member of Sol3 Mio, have gone on to take the operatic world in their stride. Both are featured in the film which highlights the strong bond the two brothers have.
Their father Pene Senior couldn’t have been prouder of his two sons.
“It’s very good. I’m very proud. My wife is very proud and I think all the Pacific should be proud, because despite (that) those are my boys they’re sons of all of the Pacific,” Pene Senior beamed
Also supporting the brothers was their sister Torre Pati.
“I’m really proud of the both of them, if the younger one was here, I’d be mocking him too, yeah but I am extremely proud of them.”
For the film, originally, Pene wasn’t convinced he was anything special, but documentary director Rebecca Tansley saw something unique in him
“Pene is a gift I have to say as a documentary maker, because he is so generous with himself, and that is what people experience when they see him and hear him perform, that is the superpower that he has which enables audiences to connect with him.” Tansley said
Pene’s wife Amina Edris and Amatai could not attend the premier as both were singing in operas in France and Italy.
The documentary dives into the Pati family’s private life, with old footage of Pene showing how music was embedded in the family’s day to day in South Auckland, the villages of Samoa and then to the international opera stage in Europe.
The documentary shows the pressures Pene is under while striving to do his best and it also revealed the prejudice he has faced in the industry, one singing coach telling him he would never become an opera singer because he was Samoan.
Thirteen years later he has proved his critics wrong, taking centre stage in the greatest opera houses in the world. Compared to the great Pavarotti, Pene is said to be one of the best tenors of his generation.
