By Kate Rodger
The cast of hit movie Sione's Wedding have given their families and friends in Samoa an excellent start to the year with a red carpet premiere of their new sequel Sione's 2: Unfinished Business.
It has been five years since they were last in Apia and the Duckrockers were welcomed back with open arms.
A little bit of rain on the Siones’ parade did nothing to dampen the spirits as the cast arrived on the wet tarmac to a warm Samoan welcome, Samoa is home to many of them and essentially the spiritual home of the Sione's story itself and bringing their new film back country was a humbling experience.
“It was quite overwhelming getting off the plane to the welcome, seeing the dancers and the chief,” says Robbie Magasiva.
After the huge success of Sione's Wedding, the boys return to the big screen with a very different story and a different kind of quest.
“It’s not just a film about a group of Polynesian boys being silly. We’re trying to tell stories about what it’s like living in New Zealand and we hope those stories resonate with everybody in New Zealand,” says Oscar Kightley.
“It’s a lot bigger this time after the success of the first one. We’re honoured and proud to be here,” says Mr Magasiva.
On the red carpet stilettos were mixed up with jandals and the stars gave interviews and posed for pictures with local media and fans.
The success of the first movie has made hometown heroes out of the cast, something they are grateful for.
There would be no Sione’s without Samoa,” says Teuila Blakely.
3 News