Venice Festival: forbidden love on South Pacific island
- 9 years ago
A film about forbidden love set on South Pacific island, ‘Tanna’ has had its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival.
The film tells the story of lovers Wawa and Dain. With arranged marriages firmly entrenched in tribal law, theirs is an impossible love, as Wawa is promised to a man from a rival tribe in an attempt to put an end to conflict between the warring groups.
The story is enacted by members of a local tribe, speaking in their native language and clad only in sheaths and grass skirts. The non-professional actors are natural performers informed by a culture in which storytelling plays a vital role.
“It wasn’t made with the idea of presenting a particular message as much as revealing a completely unique culture but in a way that is completely engaging and entertaining for a Western audience,” said film director Martin Butler at the Venice premiere.
Australian filmmakers Martin Butler and Bentley Dean lived for seven months on the island, which is part of the Vanu
The film tells the story of lovers Wawa and Dain. With arranged marriages firmly entrenched in tribal law, theirs is an impossible love, as Wawa is promised to a man from a rival tribe in an attempt to put an end to conflict between the warring groups.
The story is enacted by members of a local tribe, speaking in their native language and clad only in sheaths and grass skirts. The non-professional actors are natural performers informed by a culture in which storytelling plays a vital role.
“It wasn’t made with the idea of presenting a particular message as much as revealing a completely unique culture but in a way that is completely engaging and entertaining for a Western audience,” said film director Martin Butler at the Venice premiere.
Australian filmmakers Martin Butler and Bentley Dean lived for seven months on the island, which is part of the Vanu