THE INVISIBLE FLOATING ISLAND OF KIA KAI

Synopsis

LOG-LINE: After her mother dies, Diana embarks on a journey of discovery to the mysterious Island of KiaKai. But she soon realises that it's not paradise.

BRIEF:

The invisible floating island of Kia Kai is a complex, multi-layered story that blends elements of drama, magical realism, and environmental themes. Set on the mysterious, invisible floating island of Kia Kai, the story follows Diana, a young doctor who wants to return her mother's ashes to the island of her birth. The story is a woven rich tapestry of unique characters and cultures and the exploration of the island's mythology and magic within this visually striking, naturally unnatural world of family, community, and environmental issues. Kia Kai is a thought-provoking and immersive story.

Diana, a young doctor, lived with her sick mother, Lillian, until she passed away. While packing up her belongings, Diana finds in the back of a closet a wooden trunk containing photos, a colourful blanket, a large blue crystal and other items depicting her mother's past.

Later, she sees a similar blanket to Lillian's hanging on a fishing boat on the pier; Diana approaches Joey, the boat's captain. He tells her the blanket belongs to his grandmother, who lives on the island of KiaKai. She tells him that she thinks her mother is from there and wants to spread her ashes on Kia Kai. Joey agrees to take her to the island, where he introduces her to Mama, an older woman who founded the cave community on Kia Kai.

When Diana shows Mama the photos, she realises that she is Lilian's daughter. Diana learns her mother was part of the island's tribal council, and when she left the island with the Crystal, the lighthouse shut off, causing a divide on the island.

Hunter, Mama's estranged son, took advantage of the ship's wrecking on the rocks by salvaging the cargo. He became an angry, mean, greedy man.

Mama and Harry moved most of the Islanders to the caves on the far side of Kia Kai and established a peaceful community 30 years ago. Mama asks Diana to help her tend the highland people after a DemonChuppo dog attacks their village; they find Belle, a young non-verbal girl, tired up as bait.

Mama and Diana take Belle back to the cave community, where she is accepted and taught to speak. Belle adjusts and learns quickly about life in the caves and becomes a favourite of the cave children.

Diana decides to stay on the island to set up a medical clinic; with the help of Joey and other islanders, they build the Midway clinic using beached shipping containers and salvaged medical supplies.

It is the beginning of Diana's new life on Kia Kai an island of adventures and discoveries where nothing is as expected but full of magic and unpredictabilities.