Tanna 2015

     This film is based on an actual marriage dispute that happened in 1987.  The setting is the remote South Pacific island of Tanna and people are the Yakel tribe. The island is covered in rain forest and dominated by an active volcano.  Wawa is now a woman and she is promised to a man from another tribe to settle a peace treaty.   Wawa is in love with Dain and they want to marry but they are both from the Yakel tribe.  There could be another war between the two tribes if Wawa does not marry into the other tribe.   The tribes have rejected colonial and Christian beliefs in favor of their traditional Kastom belief system.

     I thought this was interesting and I had never heard of these two tribes or this island.  The scenery of the island is very beautiful.  The villagers know about Captain Cook, Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip.  Captain Cook was the first European to visit this island in 1774 and the volcanic light of Mount Yasur attracted him.   I was surprised about the information about Cook and the Queen.  3 ½* (I liked this movie)

104 min, Drama directed by Martin Butler and Bentley Dean with Mangau Dain, Marie Wawa, Merceline Rofit, Charlie Kahla, Albi Nangia, Lingai Kowia, Dadwa Mungau, Linette Yowayin, Kapan Cook, Mangau Yokay.

Note:  Imdb 6.9 out of 10, 90% critic 79% audience on Rotten Tomatoes, Amazon 4.7* out of 5* with 28 reviews, The Guardian 4* out of 5*

Special Note:  Filmed in Tanna, Vanuatu.  Awards won by this film were AAFCA Best Foreign Film and also Best Original Music Score, ADG Best Direction in a Feature Film, FCCA Best Music, Sutherland Award Special Jury Prize, Venice Best Cinematography, Zagreb Special Mention Feature Film.