"Pear ta ma 'on maf"..."The land has eyes, the land has teeth and knows the truth"--Rotuman proverb. Visually stunning story shot on Rotuma (which was annexed as part of Fiji when Fiji gained independence from Britain in the 1970's) about a young girl growing up in the 1960's on this isolated island and her struggle to vindicate her father's reputation in the presence of a British magistrate who doesn't understand the Rotuman language (which is deliberately misinterpreted by the local evil translator). It tells of the legend of the warrior woman of Rotuma who was left abandoned on an island by her brothers (the eldest of whom impregnated her) and how she survived to create the people of Rotuma.
The Writer/Director, Vilcent Hereniko (professor of Pacific Literature, theater and film at the UH Center for Pacific Islands Studies) and his wife (she is Jeanette Paulson Hereniko, the Founding Director of the Hawai'i International Film Festival) were present at today's screeniings to answer questions afterward. One very interesting discussion was over the rather benign portrayal of the British magistrate. Prof. Hereniko (a native Rotuman) explained that the Rotuma culture actually embraces the British government and regards them as their protectors, even though they were annexed to Fiji and are now part of an independent nation. His wife was quick to point out that this attitude shocks audiences all of the world when they travel because movie goers always expect Caucasians to be portrayed in a negative light. She commented that the attitudes of the Rotumans are so different from those of the kanaka maoli in Hawai'i toward the Western civilization, probably because the political situation in Hawai'i (the overthrow of the monarchy) was very different from the Rotuman experience where the people still own their own land.
It's already played to audiences in Hawai'i, but if it ever shows up again either on educational TV or in one of your indie movie houses and you haven't seen it yet, make an effort to see it if you want to learn about a similar but different tale about a group of indigenous people.
For more info: contact Te Maka Productions, 6105A Summer St., Honolulu, HI 96821 (website for showing schedule and other film info: www.thelandhaseyes.com).
Miulang
The Writer/Director, Vilcent Hereniko (professor of Pacific Literature, theater and film at the UH Center for Pacific Islands Studies) and his wife (she is Jeanette Paulson Hereniko, the Founding Director of the Hawai'i International Film Festival) were present at today's screeniings to answer questions afterward. One very interesting discussion was over the rather benign portrayal of the British magistrate. Prof. Hereniko (a native Rotuman) explained that the Rotuma culture actually embraces the British government and regards them as their protectors, even though they were annexed to Fiji and are now part of an independent nation. His wife was quick to point out that this attitude shocks audiences all of the world when they travel because movie goers always expect Caucasians to be portrayed in a negative light. She commented that the attitudes of the Rotumans are so different from those of the kanaka maoli in Hawai'i toward the Western civilization, probably because the political situation in Hawai'i (the overthrow of the monarchy) was very different from the Rotuman experience where the people still own their own land.
It's already played to audiences in Hawai'i, but if it ever shows up again either on educational TV or in one of your indie movie houses and you haven't seen it yet, make an effort to see it if you want to learn about a similar but different tale about a group of indigenous people.
For more info: contact Te Maka Productions, 6105A Summer St., Honolulu, HI 96821 (website for showing schedule and other film info: www.thelandhaseyes.com).
Miulang
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