Pomaika’i Brown (50 First Dates) stars as Keoki in this serious yet funny tale about four Hawaiian locals who clash over an abundant lychee tree. When Keoki offers to pick Arnie and Ethel’s tree, Arnie refuses, but suspects that Keoki will return and steal his lychee – probably with the help of the Chinese widow next door who has been eyeing the branches hanging into her yard. Paranoid, Arnie attempts to thwart their plans, no matter what the consequences. It is up to Keoki to break a longstanding cycle of fear and save the "mana" (spiritual power) of the tree.
Lychee Thieves is a beautifully woven tapestry of fear and desire whose lush dream sequences take us from the mystical valleys of Hawai’i to ancient China, where a smitten Emperor will stop at nothing to feed his lady’s lust for lychee. Lychee Thieves features a haunting original score by German composer Emanuel Heinstein and a soundtrack filled with Hawaiian favorites by acclaimed musical artists Makana, Hapa, and Raiatea Helm.
Written and directed by award-winning filmmaker Kathleen Kwai Ching Man, and featuring gorgeous hi-definition cinematography by Independent Spirit Award Nominee, Anne Misawa (Treeless Mountain), Lychee Thieves explores the often humorous, and sometimes contentious, interactions among the culturally and ethnically diverse people of Hawai’i. Showcasing a talented Hawaiian cast, with a veteran crew helmed by producer Angela Laprete, Lychee Thieves delights and inspires audiences around the globe.
