Sam Koji Hale

Marianne’s Onion

“Marianne’s Onion” is a true story from the pandemic based on an interview with Marianne Ross. 86-year-old Marianne hikes through the valley behind her house one day when she is in need of an onion and finds one miraculously in the woods. The film follows her journey from first discovery, to the reactions of her community, to her hilarious and poignant musings on the meaning of unexpectedly receiving a seemingly mundane gift.

I am Taíno

In this live-action puppet film, a grandmother talks with her granddaughter about their Taíno heritage in post-Hurricane Maria Puerto Rico.

Lessons Learned

A boy receives a gift from his grandfather for his birthday; a box in which to store the lessons he will learn throughout life. He inadvertently learns his first lesson when he opens the large chest of his grandfather's own lessons learned.