Before the Moon Falls

In 1996, at the age of 29, Sia Figiel wrote her first novel, where we once belonged. The work explored the lives of Samoan girls and the traumas they endure. Sia offered an insider’s perspective on post-colonial Samoa and its confluence of traditional culture, Christianity, and patriarchy. The book was translated into eight languages and countered Western narratives of the Pacific that romanticize island life while sexualizing Polynesian girls and women. She was awarded the Commonwealth Writers’ Prize and earned writing residencies in the U.S., Europe, and the Pacific.

Twenty years later, Sia continues to write to public acclaim, while struggling in private. The film follows her across continents over eight years, as she remains in constant motion, traveling to literary events, fitness challenges, and family gatherings. Throughout it all, she grapples with diabetes, depression, and suicidal thoughts, stemming from a childhood trauma kept secret for decades. It is only after returning to Samoa, alongside her two teenage sons, that she embarks on the process of self-discovery. Sia learns that while she may be shaped by her past, it need not define her.

Before the Moon Falls illustrates the impact of trauma across generations in a society reeling from colonialism. The film chronicles the journey of a woman transforming her emotions into art while striving to heal herself, her family, and her culture.