Loading Docs 2019 - Meet Munch Jr

Samoan-Kiwi Ali Cowley is an animator. He's also a father of four, and for his first documentary he focusses on his teenage son Nikau's desire to turn his drawings of character Munch Jnr into a three-dimensional puppet. Nikau has always loved drawing; his parents noticed his lack of emotional engagement early on and as a small child he was diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome.  By giving voice to the puppet Munch Jnr, Nikau is able to express himself in ways he would ordinarily find difficult.

The film is basically about the unconditional love I have for my son and his gift that is Asperger syndrome. I want to show the audience what Nikau sees rather than what we or the general public see when we make judgements on an autistic child’s behavior. I hope that by switching perspectives audiences will have a greater and more human understanding of autism.

– Director Ali Cowley on Meeet Munch Jr, Coconet TV website, September 2019

Key Cast & Crew

Tausani Ah Chong

Composer

Faanati Mamea

Cinematographer

Julia Parnell

Executive Producer

Sandra Kailahi

Producer

Juliette Veber

Producer

Ali Cowley

Writer, Director, Animator, Subject