State of Affairs

When rising seas threaten their survival, the islanders face a painful decision: they must leave their beloved land in search of a new place to call home. The film follows a group of young Carteret Islanders led by Nick Hakata as they search for land in Bougainville, an autonomous region of Papua New Guinea 50 miles across the open ocean. The move will not be easy as Bougainville is recovering from a 10-year civil war. Many Bougainvilleans remain traumatized by the ‘Crisis’ as the civil war is known locally. Yet, ‘Sun Come Up’ isn’t a familiar third world narrative. Out of this tragedy comes a story of hope, strength, and profound generosity.