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Hero image for Deportees of Tonga - Gangsters in Paradise

Deportees of Tonga - Gangsters in Paradise

Web (Full Length) – 2019

American-raised, Kiwi based photographer Todd Henry produced this documentary for Vice, after meeting deportee 'Ila Mo'unga while visiting Tonga. Mo'unga was drawn to Henry after hearing his familiar American accent. Tonga is now home to hundreds of deportees — permanent residents of New Zealand, Australia or the United States who committed serious crimes and did jailtime, then were put on a plane to start a new life in an unfamiliar culture. The lucky ones have family land, or a place to stay. But many start from scratch and without institutional support, old bad habits can kick in. 

It ain't a place to live when you're barely making ends meet. It's like crabs being stuck in a bucket, scratching, trying to get out.
– Kiwi deportee Sione Moli, on trying to make his life in Tonga work

Key Cast & Crew

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Ursula Grace Williams

Producer

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Todd Henry

Associate Producer

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Tim Flower

Cinematographer

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Sergio Noriega

Production Manager

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Olivia Gattuso

Supervising Producer

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Alex Waterfield

Executive Producer

See all 14 credits

Produced by

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VICE

Source

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VICE