Before the Moon Falls

In May 2024, news of a murder in the Polynesian nation of Samoa rocked the Pacific. The perpetrator, Sia Figiel, was a trailblazing novelist and poet who won international acclaim for being the first to write about the difficult realities Samoan girls and women face. The victim was her friend, who was also a poet.

This film was a portrait of Sia eight years in the making when the murder happened. Now it offers an in-depth and thought-provoking look at her journey leading up to the tragedy, illuminating the complexity of untreated mental illness and the devastating toll it can exact on individuals, families, and entire communities.

The film was pitched at Doc Edge Industry 2021.