A Paradise Lost

Name: A Paradise Lost
Director: Laurie Sumiye
Genre: Animation, Documentary
Released: 2025-10-19
Cast: Kalā Lindsey-Asing, Michael Sherwood, Marjorie Ziegler, Kaipo Schwab

The true story of one small Hawaiian bird who took a stand changed the rules.

2025 · 89 min · Animation, Documentary

The film unfolds through the POV of the Palila called Anuenue who stood as the client in 1979 court trials. The legal battle leveraged the Endangered Species Act to protect māmane forests where 2,500 Palila competed with introduced sheep & goats. He explains how they won in court, but are still in jeopardy; in 2024, only 300 Palila remain. Today, a Native Hawaiian conservationist struggles to save them amidst escalating threats of climate change, wildfires, introduced predators, diseases, and governmental neglect.

Directed by Laurie Sumiye · Written by Laurie Sumiye

Your Rating

Cast

More from Laurie SumiyeSee all →

Director Kelly Anderson's personal journey as a Brooklyn 'gentrifier' to understand the forces reshaping her neighborhood along lines of race and class. The film reframes the gentrification debate to expose the corporate actors and government policies driving displacement and neighborhood change.

More Like This

Couldn't load this row right now.