Tanna

Synopsis

“The eternal story of young lovers breaking all the rules and risking everything to be together is beautifully told in “Tanna”, the first-ever feature shot entirely in the South Pacific nation of Vanuatu. Based on dramatic events that took place on the volcanic island of Tanna in 1987, the pic weaves fascinating details of tribal life into a universally accessible and emotionally affecting romantic drama. Very well performed by non-professionals drawn from communities whose history is represented on screen. (…) Part of the film’s success can be attributed to events that took place long before cameras rolled. Dean and Butler spent seven months living with the Yakel, a tribe whose customs and lifestyle have changed little for centuries. During this time the filmmakers were told of a great love story from the recent past. The result was a screenplay written in close collaboration with the Yakel and performed predominantly by its members. In this and several other respects “Tanna” shares similarities with Rolf de Heer’s “Ten Canoes” (AROUND THE WORLD IN 14 FILMS 2006), which was made in a comparable spirit in Australia.” (Richard Kuipers, Variety)

Around The World in 14 Films 2016, presented by Max Mauff