Gorgeously photographed by Gabriel Beristain and stylishly directed by first-timer Marc Forby, who also wrote and produced, "Princess Kaiulani" benefits from the two splendid locations, England and Hawaii, to tell a sweeping story of a proud and stubborn young woman torn between her personal passions and a sense of duty. Kilcher, who knows her way around princesses—having played Pocahontas in Terrence Malick's "The New World"—gets a chance to shine here as a complicated but determined woman with the world on her shoulders. She's well-supported by Barry Pepper, playing a power-grabbing man who lays siege against the monarchy, and Will Patton as Sanford Dole, who initially favored taking Hawaii from the natives but later saw the error of his ways and reversed course, helping the princess on her mission. As the romantic interest, Evans is believable in his true love for Kaiulani, even as his character keeps her in the dark about turbulent events oceans away in Hawaii.
On the surface, Forby's movie may seem a bit stiff and too much of a history lesson for mainstream audiences, but the little-known tale that led to Hawaii's annexation grows on you and packs a powerful punch thanks to the talented director's strong sense of storytelling and impressive visual style. Carrying the movie, Kilcher digs deep into this almost tragic character and delivers a moving and triumphant portrayal of a person whose accomplishments in such a short span of time should not be forgotten. Thankfully, the complex issues dealing with the rights of indigenous people aren't presented in a stereotypical black-and-white manner. Hawaiians won't be the only ones who find "Princess Kaiulani" well worth the price of admission.
Genre: Drama.
Written and directed by: Marc Forby.
Starring: Q'orianka Kilcher, Barry Pepper, Will Patton, Shaun Evans, Jimmy Yuill.