Tanna – Wellington Film Society

Martin Butler/Bentley Dean, Australia/Vanuatu 2015, 104 mins HD, M, violence, offensive language.

Filmed pre-Cyclone Pam on the island of Tanna in Vanuatu, this stunningly photographed film tells the star-crossed story of Wawa, a young woman who has fallen in love with her chief’s dashing grandson, Dain.

When an inter-tribal war breaks out with a neighbouring community, the young lovers are forced to choose between their own happiness and the common good. Mythic in its simplicity, the film is based on a true story that took place in 1985 and carried significant ramifications for the evolution of tribal society.

Working closely with the indigenous community, acclaimed Australian filmmakers Martin Butler and Bentley Dean have expanded on their previous documentary work to produce a ravishing cinematic expression of traditional culture. - Bill Gosden, NZIFF 2016