Coluna Claquete – February 13th, 2017 – Movie of the Week: “Tanna”
Newton Ramalho
colunaclaquete@gmail.com – www.colunaclaquete.blogspot.com– @colunaclaquete
Movie of the Week: “Tanna”
If anyone ever ask what for the Oscar is, we can say that, at least in the category of Best Foreign Film, it allows us to have access to productions that hardly would reach the commercial circuit. Of course, when they are not boycotted by their own governments, as was the case of our “Aquarius”. But if we are not represented in the competition, worth check the others, and find some rare gems, as is the case of “Tanna”, the representative of Australia and Vanuatu.
The film has little to do with Australia, where the original inhabitants were massacred or marginalized by the British colonizers. To be honest, I had to search in the internet to find out where the story happened, and I discovered that Vanuatu is a former Franco-British colony, with little time of independent existence.
The country is an archipelago in the South Pacific and Tanna is one of 83 islands that compose it.Although it is one of the most populated islands, with twenty thousand, Tanna has an area a bit bigger than the city of Quebec, with 550 km².
Although these geographical data appear to have little to do with the film, they show a place where modern civilization could not destroy the local behavior, where live people who follow their own traditions and beliefs existing since immemorial times.
It is in this unique environment that lives Wawa (Wawa Marie) a young woman who is completing the transition between adolescence and maturity, a situation which is celebrated by the whole tribe, though with the usual charges.
Wawa loves his people and his family, especially her bratty little sister Selin (Marceline Rofit) that never seems to stay quiet.But Wawa also has a special feeling for Dain (Mungau Dain), the grandson of the chief of tribe, her friend since childhood.
The Yakel, the people of Wawa, has a great veneration for Yahul, an active volcano easily accessible, which is for them the divinity that brings them wisdom. When Selin and his grandfather make a visit to the volcano, they are attacked by two Imedin warriors, one of the tribes of the island.
The aggression brings a lot of anger and desire for revenge to the Yakel, but the chief of the tribe receives a divine message through a song that says that revenge leads nowhere, except for destruction.The case is brought to the board of all tribes, and an agreement is sealed, where the young Wawa will be offered in marriage to strengthen ties with Imedin tribe.
The problem is that neither Wawa or Dain accept this fate and they decide to escape to live their love. But the world of Tanna is small, and there seems no place for innocent lovers.There seems to be no outcome except a tragedy.
One might be tempted to think of this plot as an aboriginal copy of Tristan and Isolde or Romeo and Juliet. But the fact portrayed really occurred in 1987. It sparked a change in thinking on the island’s traditions, something unthinkable until then.
The film is surprising in many ways, especially in cast performance, most real islanders without any scenic knowledge, but that bring realism and charm to the scenes.
The movie’s photography is fantastic, exploring in a exquisite way the beautiful and strange island landscapes, including volcano, forest, desert plains and lush coastline.
The film is spoken in Bislama, the island’s dialect, which does not affect the beautiful dialogues rich of humor and teachings on the art of living together.
“Tanna” is a very interesting movie with many layers to understanding and discussion, and showing how the human condition is rich and varied, even in this strangely globalized world.
Original title: “Tanna”