The fictional men’s soccer team of American Samoa, known as one of the worst in the world, and their quest to qualify for the 2014 FIFA World Cup with the aid of coach Thomas Rongen ( Michael Fassbender ) are the subject of Taika Waititi’ new film Next Goal Wins.
Waititi’s funny retelling of the 2011 documentary with the same name, however, serves as an introduction to another legacy left by the island nation: its third-gender community, known as fa’af afine, in addition to engrossing viewers in the normal beauty and social quirks of National Samoan culture.
Actor Kaimana, who plays staff member Jaiyah Saelua in the movie, says,” The idea of fa’afine is really, I think, one of the most essential things that comes out of this film.”
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Saelua, who is regarded by FIFA as the first transgender person to engage in a World Cup qualifier, has made history in the sport by speaking openly about her transition and donning makeup at each game.
Saelua, who is currently a manager and FIFA adviser for equality and LGBTQ athletes, keeps finding ways to bridge the divide between Western and indigenous perspectives on gender identity.
The 35-year-old athlete tells PEOPLE,” I’m really proud of my fa’afine identity, and I will preach it everyday I go.” However, I’m also extremely proud of my decision to change and assume the role of the voice of trans athletes around the world as a trans woman.
Fa’afafine’s precise Samoan language, “in the manner of a woman,” “might good contentious when you hear it from an outdoor lens,” she says. However, “but” written in the manner of a woman implies that we are no ladies and also hints at our differences from people. We do n’t have a binary identity. We have a dual identity.
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The third and fourth Samoan gender names, known as fa’afatama ( in the manner of a person ), are rooted in their significant cultural significance.
The tenet of our society is admiration, Saelua continues. ” We have obligations that are conventional, also being carried out, and acknowledged.” We are respected by all, including our societies, temples, and government officials.
Fa’afafine are actually such a common part of the island community that until Saelua left American Samoa for the United States, she did n’t need to explain or contextualize her gender identity for others.
She acknowledges that she had never heard of prejudice before. ” I was introduced to the concept that you have to try to be as serviceable as possible if you want to live a pleasant life being born as the male and therefore growing up and living the female.” I was exposed to the stress of that.
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One of the storylines in Waititi’s film, which won an Oscar, is the struggle to balance indigenous personality with American ideologies. Saelua ( as played by Kaimana ) is teased by an opposing team and deadnamed by Rongen from Fassbender.
Saelua adds that she “loved” the film and says,” Those are actual experiences that transgender people in Eastern cultures face, and I thought it important that people see that.”
” I felt a sense of confidence that Taika was the one who was doing this because I’m Samoan fa’afine and I live on the Pacific Island.” He is from the Pacific Islands, so he is aware of the sensitivity of some concerns that a person knows not to joke about.
Following Goal Wins reminds viewers all over the world that “expressions outside of the binary are certainly a new thing” by incorporating elements of Saelua’s real-life narrative into its script, according to Kaimana,34. ” Fa’afafine” is a concept that dates back in time. It has long-standing origins.
Like Saelua, who was born in Hawaii and to a parents with Samoan ancestry, Kaimana describes himself as fa’afine — and much more. The actor, who uses the pronoun she/they, says,” I feel like a very complicated being only by nature of being human.” ” And I believe that applies to everyone.”
Kaimana, who was raised in Hawaii, California, and Utah, is all too familiar with the “pressure to get one brand to categorise yourself into.” Sincerely, the idea of “identifying” is quite peculiar to the Eastern world. In contrast, in many native environments, you simply are who you are without any justification at all.
My experience is very extensive and it covers a wide range of topics, she continues. I’m delighted to identify as a trans woman, as well as transfeminine, non-binary, and female, just as I am proud of myself. I identify quite strongly with each and every one of those names and experience.
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With Next Goal Wins bringing Saelua’s unique experience to people all over the world, Kaimana hopes it may encourage people to consider sex as more than just a binary choice.
The actor declares,” I believe that everyone deserves to be given, naturally, the same space for exploration [as myself], as well as the freedom and right to determine as they please. I’m like,” Hey, that’s not going to work!” if you were raised in a world and language with only two options.
Oscar Kightley, David Fane, Rachel House, Beulah Koale, Will Arnett, and Elisabeth Moss co-starred in Next Goal Wins, which is currently playing in venues.
