On Monday, Nov. 17, Punahou’s SAGA (Sexuality and Gender Affirmation) Club partnered once again with the Hawaiʻi International Film Festival’s education outreach program to host a special visit from writer/director Elizabeth Rian and cinematographer, Punahou alumna Anne Misawa ’84. Academy students in SAGA were invited to a screening of Rian’s award-winning short film, Grace, followed by an engaging discussion with the filmmakers.
Set in Honolulu in 1959, Grace explores the hidden relationship between two women navigating pressures of family expectations and the political tensions surrounding Hawai‘i’s admission into the United States. The story is rooted in Rian’s own family history; the character Ruth, whom she portrays in the film, is based on her grandmother’s sister. Rian shared that while she is able to live and speak openly about her identity today, her relative Ruth – whose story inspired the film – did not have that freedom in 1959. The emotional weight of that contrast resonated throughout the conversation.
Misawa, an acclaimed cinematographer who has long been drawn to “underdog” narratives, spoke about why she signed on to the project and used the opportunity to explain the role of cinematography to students. She noted the importance of centering marginalized perspectives – one reason the film intentionally hired LGBTQIAA+ and AAPI crew members.
The Q&A touched on themes of sovereignty, identity and the universal desire for belonging. Rian emphasized how the character Grace feels safest only with Ruth, while broader societal expectations push both women toward silence. When asked whether her family had seen the film, Rian shared that only her mother had watched it.
Both filmmakers closed the session by encouraging students to stay curious, tell the stories that matter to them, and follow their passions – whether in film, art or any path that calls them.
