Role draws attention to language dilemma

Press, 23 July 1986, Page 17

Role draws attention to language dilemma

One of New Zealand’s up-and-coming movie actors plays a guest role in this evening’s episode of "Open House” on One at 7.30 p.m. Sixteen-year-old Junior Amiga recently starred in the movie "Kingpin,” based on real-life stories of boys from the Department of Social Welfare’s Kohitere Training Centre in Levin.

His performance was highly acclaimed by film critics, and Amiga went on to star in TVNZ’s first tele-feature, “Mark II,”

which will screen on television soon. In “Open House,” Amiga plays a 17-year-old Samoan, called Tili, who has recently arrived in New Zealand. Tili understands more English than he can speak, largely because of lack of confidence outside a familiar environment. He loses his job at the local printing works because of his lack of English, and Tony Ven Der Berg (Frank Whitten) from the community house is quick to leap in

feet first to help Tili get his job back and set up English classes at the house. This week’s episode of “Open House,” titled “Taking Steps,” was written by Graeme Tetley. The Wellington actor and journalist, Samson Samasoni, was the Samoan consultant and translator.