The new film, Hibiscus & Ruthless, tells the story of young Samoan woman Hibiscus, played by Suivai Pilisipi Autagavaia, and her palagi friend Ruth, played by Anna-Maree Thomas.
The director, who found success with his debut film Three Wise Cousins, says the film was a crash course in Samoan culture for Thomas.
"We had a lot of great actors come through and Anna-Maree Thomas really encapsulated the core values of Ruth," he says.
