Ei (2026): Cast, Story and Release Details

Prepared by Movies Dock Editorial

A mother leaves an abusive marriage in Aotearoa and returns to the Cook Islands with her son in Ei, a 19-minute short about homecoming, reintegration and family tradition. Directed by Aukai Ligairi, the 2026 film centers on the cultural significance of ei, or floral garlands.

Ei is a 2026 short film about Rebecca, who leaves an abusive marriage in Aotearoa and goes back to the Cook Islands with her son. Returning home offers a new setting, but not an immediate sense of belonging.

The film follows their effort to reconnect with a small island community and with Rebecca’s family tradition of making ei, the floral garlands that give the story its title. At 19 minutes, it presents a focused account of return, family and cultural reintegration.

Ei movie details

Story without spoilers

Rebecca escapes an abusive marriage in Aotearoa and travels with her son to her home in the Cook Islands. Their return brings them into contact with the close-knit island culture they left behind, as well as Rebecca’s family tradition of making ei, or floral garlands.

Rather than treating homecoming as a simple resolution, the premise places Rebecca and her son in the difficult process of finding their way back into family and community life. The film’s short format keeps the focus on that transition and on the cultural practice at the center of their re-entry.

What to expect

Ei is a short drama built around displacement, return and the challenges of reintegrating into a small island culture. Its central situation involves a mother protecting a new chapter of life for herself and her son after an abusive marriage, while reconnecting with her Cook Islands home and family tradition.

The title refers to ei, a floral garland-making tradition that forms part of the film’s premise. Viewers can expect a compact, character-centered story with cultural and family elements, rather than a broad ensemble narrative.

Cast and creative team

Ei is directed by Aukai Ligairi. No cast or writer names are supplied in the available film details.

Release and production context

Ei is listed as a 2026 film with a release date of September 19, 2026. It has a runtime of 19 minutes. The supplied details do not identify a country, spoken language or production company.

Movies Dock view

With its concise running time and focused premise, Ei centers on a mother and son negotiating what it means to return home after leaving an abusive marriage. Its Cook Islands setting and the tradition of ei making provide the story with a specific cultural and family context.

Film data:
TMDB