The premiere of the latest Marshallese and German-made movie “One Word” had the audience starstruck at Jittak-En Saturday night with its rich cinematography and unerring documentation about climate change.
The movie is the outcome of the collaboration between German film team Kameradisten (Comrades) directors Viviana and Mark Uriona and local non-profit organization Jo-Jikum.
It features great interviews with editor Giff Johnson, poet and Jo-Jikum Director Kathy Jetnil-Kijiner, the RMI Disaster Office Director Timmy Langrine, National Energy Planner Angeline Heine-Reimers, Tobolar’s Jim Philippo, educator Biram Stege, Education Minister Kitlang Kabua, former Okeanos Director Dustin LoMoki Langidrik, WAM Director Alson Kelen, Marshallese locals, and scientists.
The event concluded with the film participants sharing their experience of being part of the film.
This weekend, the film shows on Kwajalein Atoll.
The Kwajalein Atoll Public School System’s Deo Keju has “one word” for the folk of Ebeye and Gugeegue: COME … and watch One Word.
The free showings will be at Gugeegue’s Father Hacker High School on Saturday, March 20 at 7:30pm and at Ebeye’s Wilmer Bolkeim Gym on Monday, March 22 at 7:30pm.
“I saw the film advertised to be shown free on Majuro, so I contacted the directors and asked them if we could show it in Ebeye and Gugeegue,” Deo told the Journal. He also contacted Iroojlaplap Mike Kabua and Mayor Hirata Kabua for permission to show the film. “I contacted them to make sure it would be okay and I got the ‘all good’ yesterday.”
Both the venues have their own big screens for presenting the movie. Deo is hoping that loads of people come and watch “One Word: We are not drowning. We are fighting.”
The full title indicates that the main focus of the movie is climate change and its ongoing effects on the Marshall Islands. “I will briefly introduce the movie and explain that this is a big issue,” said Deo. “No, it’s a really critical issue.”
—Reporting by Wilmer Joel and Karen Earnshaw.