My Partner (2024): interview with director Keli’i Grace
THIS ARTICLE HAS SPOILERS
“Enemies to lovers” is a trope many think is overused, while others simply love it. It’s often a winner, that’s why it keeps being used — a paradox, but true. One of the most recent movies to use this trope and have it work out is the queer romance “My Partner”.
High schoolers Pili (Kaipo Dudoit) and Edmar (Jayro Muñoz) are paired by their teacher for a project about a culturally significant dish. They are not close at all. In fact, Pili as one of the bullies bothering Edmar and his two best friends Zack (Dan Francis Rodriguez) and Cedric (Bryant de Venecia) in the opening sequence of the movie.
It’s more than a clash of individuals: it’s a clash of cultures. Edmar is Filipino and Pili is Hawaiian. For Edmar, born in the Philippines, hanging out with Pili and his family is an education, as he learns about lo’i, the importance of clean water for the population — something that had been taken from them before — and the traditions surrounding a lu’au. Even though both boys have girlfriends — Pili dates classmate Sina (Malelelga Lauano), while Edmar is in a long-distance relationship — they start developing deeper feelings for each other.
Pili is a closeted nerd. He tells his friends he got smaller grades than the ones he really got and, instead of paddling his way into college he’d rather study History and become a professor, dedicating his life not to sport but to research. Pili is played by Kaipo Dudoit, who soon will be a household name thanks to being chosen to play David in the upcoming “Lilo and Stitch” live-action.
A queer coming-of-age has a name of its own: “boys love” or BL. Most of the productions from this genre come from Asia, like the very famous South Korean and Japanese doramas. The genre was actually born in Japanese literature and spread across mangas, film and, of course, TV. “My Partner” is an important film for another, more sinister, reason: it was the last film shot in Lahaina, Hawaii, before it was devastated by a wildfire in 2023.
We had the chance to talk to director Keli’I Grace about some points in “My Partner”:
The music choice certainly makes a point that we, non-Hawaiians, miss. Can you comment about it? What was the most meaningful song chosen and why?
My approach to anything related to Hawaiʻi is to ensure its authenticity is kept intact, seeing it through from beginning to end. This means the music must be used with intention, not just because it’s popular. If you show this to anyone from Hawaiʻi, the first thing they’ll recognize is the music. It should be celebrated just as much, if not more, than the story itself. Each song carries a story for our people. The most personally meaningful song in this project is “‘O Olowalu i ke Kai Mopua” by Poʻokela Wood, as the scene was filmed in my family’s backyard, which is filled with memories. The hula or dance performed in that scene was created specifically for this song and the film.
A good part of the movie is spoken in languages such as Tagalog and Hawaiian. How important was that to appeal to local audiences? Weren’t you afraid that it could scare away an audience that is not willing to read subtitles?
Authenticity and intention are crucial, which is why we chose to incorporate our native languages in the film — not as a gimmick, but to normalize how our language might be used in everyday life. I watch a lot of international cinema and TV with subtitles, and I believe it’s a great way to learn about each other’s cultures and gain a small understanding of the language and its meaning. I wasn’t worried or afraid that audiences might shy away from watching with subtitles. The whole point is for people to immerse themselves in the full experience — language, music, culture, and all.
There is a sequence in which we see Pili leaving the shower and his body is completely objectified. We are unfortunately used to the objectification of the female body on screen, so this was a surprise. Was it intentional, in the sense of making a comment about the “normal” objectification?
Yes, this was absolutely intentional, especially given the norms of the BL genre. However, I felt it was toned down compared to other BL dramas I’ve studied. I took inspiration from Korean dramas, which often use extended slow-motion shots to highlight the body, but I aimed to strike a balance, ensuring the scene served the story rather than just objectifying for the sake of it.
Maymay is the main female character, and she is not very well developed. Was the attention all given to developing the male characters as nuanced and complex, so she “came out” (no pun intended) like this? Is this part of the “boys’ love” genre?
I actually developed it alot more than intended, Maymay’s role as a supporting character was meant to highlight how, in Filipino culture, it’s very normal for cousins to be as close as siblings. During casting, she also really stood out to me, so I wanted to add more entertainment value by incorporating her into the story and break up the typical boys’ romance dynamic in the BL genre.
There is more than one sequence showing how the protection of the environment is important to the Hawaiians — it even makes the two rival friends groups come closer. Is this a widespread notion among the people living in the island, native or not?
This issue is widely recognized across all the islands of Hawaiʻi: our land has often been treated as a playground for the wealthy. I hope this will highlight that reality both directly and indirectly.
The much awaited first kiss between Pili and Edmar happens in a tent. Is this a nod to “Brokeback Mountain” (2005)?
Haha no not really. I thought this would be the best way to reach the peak of the film. Plus, it feels realistic for high school students in Hawaiʻi to camp together and maybe get into a little mischief along the way.
