Watch Yokwe Bartowe
Film producer and director Jack Niedenthal has generously made the first two Microwwave films, Ña Noniep and Yokwe Bartowe, available to the public. Watch the show below and read all above it below that. Thank you Jack!
“Yokwe Bartowe must be the most honest film I have ever seen. Raw, down-to-earth and true to reality, it becomes a statement about the Marshallese identity: humble, yet charming; troubled, yet smiling; magical, yet believable… Many Hollywood directors indeed have a lot to learn from Niedenthal, Chutaro and their crew.”
-Peter Sutoris, Filmmaker
Martha Horiuchi stars as Kaila, the girlfriend of Bartowe, who is played by Lyel Tarkwon. Photo: Microwave Films
Yokwe Bartowe is the story of a beautiful young island girl named Lijiamao who is kidnapped by an evil demon bird. The ancient legend of the ‘kwolej’ bird dictates that its main mission in life is to create sorrow and misfortune in the world. Bartowe is Lijiamao’s 20-year-old brother and he was supposed to be watching his sister on the day she
mysteriously vanished while swimming in the lagoon.
He is blamed for her disappearance by his mother. Even though most people believe that Lijiamao has drowned, the fact that no one ever found her body in extremely shallow water has everyone puzzled. Only Lijiamao’s best friend Tili refuses to believe she is dead, much to the dismay of her principal, her teacher and her classmates.
The story follows the life of Bartowe on the first anniversary of his sister’s disappearance. He is trying to cope with the hatred of his mother for not taking good care of Lijiamao and the deterioration of his relationship
with his steady girlfriend and fellow college student, Kaila. The immense sorrow in his life drives him to drinking and disillusionment, which eventually causes him to become the enemy of a local island gang. Just when his life seems to be heading toward complete disaster, hope comes from an unexpected source: Lijimu. The old woman, who is despised by the island community because she’s believed to be a sorceress and capable of performing powerful black magic, attempts to come to the young man’s rescue.
The film stars Lyel Tarkwon, Netha Gideon, Martha Horiuchi, Nica Wase, Jefferson Paulis and Billma Melson. The film was shot on location in Majuro Atoll and Bikini Atoll in the Marshall Islands, and in
Springdale, Arkansas, United States.Yokwe Bartowe contains several new musical compositions along with some old time favorites performed by Nica Wase, Lulani Ritok, Nelu de Brum, Mattu Lejjena, Lyel Tarkwon and Lucus Niedenthal.
Microwave Films of the Marshall Islands is a community based film production company in the Marshall Islands.
Actors in this film all volunteered for their roles and represent various organizations in the Marshall Islands including the College of the Marshall Islands, the Majuro Cooperative School, and the
Women’s Athletic Club (WAC).
Below is a Radio New Zealand interview with producer Jack Niedenthal:
“This film is a great example of a community project.
It showcased problems that people see around them and provided insights into potential solutions.
It was an entertaining mix of serious issues and comic relief.”
–US Ambassador to the Marshall Islands, Martha Campbell
