TITANIC
Photo by NOAA on Unsplash
CINEMATIC COMPASS
Sono Fifita, a junior from Tonga
majoring in finance.
The “Titanic” (1997) stirred emotions similar to those felt during a real-life tragedy in Tonga, said Fifita. She compared the film’s sinking ship to the 2010s disaster of an inter-island ferry in her home country, which claimed the lives of several distant relatives. Having watched the movie more than five times, she said it still moves her to tears and the emotions lingered for an entire day.
Photo by BBC News
“I expect [true story movies] to teach me something because they’re based on real stories. That’s why I should watch them.”
Such films, she found, inspire her to be more loving and charitable toward others.
She was especially touched by Titanic’s message to “love and care about the people more today because you don’t know what might happen tomorrow.” One scene remains vivid in her mind: when the female lead realizes the male lead will die before releasing his grip on a piece of debris in the ocean. Fifita could feel the love they had for each other—the kind of love not anyone can have, she shared.
Photos by Justin Venotti.
I'M THE MAIN CHARACTER
Reflecting on her life, Fifita said her cancer journey in 2024 could be a powerful true story movie with the theme of trusting Heavenly Father confidently. During that time, she said she still showed up for her responsibility at school, work and church. “The lesson I want everyone to know is that I don't want to focus on myself. I never even cared about my family and all I did was just to trust Heavenly Father so much,” she shared. “I want to make it a movie in Tongan style,” she added with a laugh.
ACT ION
MOVIE IN
The movie’s impact goes beyond emotion for Fifita—it motivates her to act. Fifita said she’s drawn to them because they keep her grounded. “It reminds me that life is so hard. This happens to some people and what I'm struggling with is nothing compared to what they're going through,” she explained.
Fifita’s connection to films extends beyond true stories. “I’m so crazy about taking action from a movie,” she said, explaining how a film’s genre can influence her mood and appearance. “If it’s a girly movie, my friends notice me wearing a dress to work or taking better care of my hair. If it’s a gangster movie, I’d dress up likewise.”