Princess Ka'iulani

STARRING: Q'orianka Kilcher ('The New World' as Pocahontas), Barry Pepper ('True Grit' as Lucky Ned Pepper), Will Patton ('Remember the Titans' as Coach Bill Yoast)

MPAA RATING: PG - Some violence and thematic material, and for brief language, sensuality and smoking.

ADDITIONAL RATING INFO: The sensuality in this movie involves a couple of scenes where 2 of the main characters kiss, they are not married. It says there is brief language and although I may have missed something because I wasn't specifically looking out for it, the one item I recall a school girl calling the Princess a 'negro'.

MOVIE SYNOPSIS

synopsis provided by 'Netflix'

Lush scenery and gorgeous photography highlight this bio of Princess Ka'iulani (Q'Orianka Kilcher), a 19th-century Hawaiian princess raised in England but determined to maintain her people's independence from aggressive American businessmen. After being sent to England as a child by her Scottish father, Ka'iulani returns to Hawaii and becomes a political activist who fights to retain her throne, even though she must leave her English paramour.

MOVIE REVIEW

I love to find new family friendly movies. I believe this to be one. The subject matter of this movie would not likely make it a fit for younger children. I say this not so much for violent content but because I doubt it would keep their attention.

The movie opens with life being very good for Princess Ka'iulani as she is playing with her Mother on the Beach and her family is still in power as the Royal Monarchy.

Ka'iulani has a Hawaiian Mother and a Scottish Father and the Royal bloodline is from her Mother's side. (Sorry to state the obvious) Ka'iulani's Mother dies when she is 11 years old.

The United States had previously sent Christian Missionaries to Hawaii but had now had a large number of U.S. statesmen who were interested in overthrowing the Monarchy.

Princess Ka'iulani's Father wanted to remove her from the dangers of the islands and at the age of 13 he took her to England, where she lived with a family that is apparently friends with her Father. She attends school there for several years.

The U.S. forces the King to sign an agreement that dissolves the Monarchy and denies the native Hawaiians the rite to vote.

While in England the Princess makes friends with the 2 children of the family she is staying with. *spoiler warning* She eventually falls in love with the boy and they pursue a relationship. The kissing mentioned in the rating section is between these two and happens on a couple of occasions. (In the little reading I've done on the true story of Ka'iulani, I did not see an indication of this relationship, so I am not sure if it was real or a Hollywood fabrication)

While in England Ka'iulani hears of the death of her Uncle, and her Aunt, who is childless, becomes Queen (although no longer recognized as Royalty by the U.S.), she appoints Ka'iulani heir to the throne. Ka'iulani remains in England for some time after hearing this news and her Aunt makes every attempt to reinstate the Monarchy to it's rightful place.

Ka'iulani is soon torn and feels she must return to Hawaii to help her people. Before she returns, she makes a trip to the United States in hopes to make the plight of her people known to President Cleveland as well as other U.S. citizens. They are struck by her beauty, education, and fine dress as they were expecting to see something much different since she was after all a 'native'.

After her time in the U.S. she returns to Hawaii to be with her people. Despite her best efforts, and the compassion and support of President Cleveland, Hawaii's Monarchy was not reinstated.

All in all, I found this movie to be entertaining and informational. I am not an expert on Hawaiian History by any stretch, but found myself reminded of what we as U.S. Citizens have taken from the peoples native to the lands on which we expanded. In spite of my own feelings of sadness for this act, I was encouraged by the love of the native Hawaiians for their land and culture.

I recommend this movie as I really enjoyed it, but if you do not have older children...Mom, you may be watching this one alone, unless you are blessed with a husband who is willing watch it with you. (However, I cannot guarantee you're husband will feel the same way I do. *wink*)

To watch the trailer of this movie, click on the video below: