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A native tribe on Bora Bora, as of yet relatively untouched by
civilisation as we know it: Matahi is madly in love with Reri, and vice
versa, but then a high priest from a neighbouring tribe stops by and
destines Reri to be a virgin meant for the Gods - and whoever touches her
or lays eyes on her shall be killed. The high priest takes her with him on
his boat, but at night, Matahi snatches her away, and the two decide to
settle in a pearl diver's community, where Matahi fits in quite perfectly,
being a master pearldiver, but he's also amazingly naive when it comes to
money, to saving it, to spending it, and the like. Still, the two lead a
happy life - until Hitu appears on the scene, the old warrior who was
supposed to guard Reri at all times. He makes a deal with Reri, if she
comes with him quietly, he will spare the life of Matahi (who has
committed a capital crime by kidnapping the Gods' "virgin". But
still the two of them try to escape Hitu by booking a trip to wherever
else on the next shooner. But when it's about to pay for the tickets, the
local inn owner asks Matahi to pay his debts first - and since Matahi had
thrown a big feast at his inn, there's nothing left to pay the fare with.
So Reri gives into fate and decides to go with Hitu to at least save
Matahi, but Matahi isn't one to give up that easily, and he subsequently
dives for the biggest pearl he has ever seen in a stretch of waters that
has been deemed taboo because of sharks, sharks he bravely bests ... but
when he returns to his hut with the pearl that would solve all their
problems, Reri is already gone, and when he tries to swim after her, he
dies from exhaustion ... First and foremost, there are no two
ways about it, at least on a narrative level, Tabu: A Story of the
South Seas is nothing more than South Seas kitsch: The story is
amazingly simplistic, told in a bit too straight a way, marred by too many
big feelings and too few nuances, and relying mostly on clichées rather
than South Seas mythology ... and all that said, this is a pretty loveable
film, thanks to a subtle yet atmospheric directorial effort, great
landscapes, with expert cinematography making the most of them, very
natural performances and a very light-footed approach in tune with the
carefreeness of an island paradise - which is also expressed in many very
innocent topless scenes during a feast at the beginning of the film. Definitely
worth a look.
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amazon.com
eThaiCD.com
find Tabu: A Story of the South Seas at adultvideouniverse.com
