Hot Picks
|
|
|
Pear Ta Ma 'on Maf
The Land has Eyes
Fiji / USA 2004
produced by Jeannette Paulson Hereniko, Corey Tong, Merata Mita (executive) for Te Maka Productions
directed by Vilsoni Hereniko
starring Sapeta Taito, Rena Owen, Voi Fesaitu, Elisapeti Kafonika Inia, John Faisu Fatiaki, Ritie Titofaga, James Davenport, Maniue Vilsoni, Sarote Fonmanu, Emily Erasito, Moriki Tigarea, Mareko Tomniko Veu, Fuata Semesi, Mata Tomniko Iane, Wilson Paul Tomnuiko, Vamarasi Ross Veu, Seu Morris, Atu Sosefo F.Lino, Eliesa Paka, Selina Jimione, Jare Ieli, Kauteao Vilsoni, Shereen Rebecca, Lawrence Olsson, Gagaj Tukagsau, Tonu Vakiora, Atalifo Kamilo, Riamkau Aisea, Lia Hereniko, Akata Fauoro, Luisa Motufaga, Samuela Tiuhea, Alfereti Samo
written by Vilsoni Hereniko
review by Mike Haberfelner
|
|
|
Viki (Sapeta Taito) is a schoolgirl from a poor but honest family on
Rotuma who has dreams to one day study in Fiji, and she is fascinated by
stories about the island's first warrior woman (Rena Owen), who soon
becomes her role model. When her dad is dragged to court by his neighbour
Koroa (Maniue Vilsoni), cheated into admitting to a crime he never
committed by the court translator Poto, and sentenced to pay a huge amount
of money, this breaks him, and when he dies from the effects, Viki
temporarily goes mental and casues a pig stampede in her village. However,
she more and more figures the only way to beat the system is to study in
Fiji, and really, she makes it best of her class and is suggested for a
scholarship - which will probably be granted to Poto's nephew though
because of his good relations to gouvernment circles. Viki nevertheless
decides to attend the interview for the scholarship, but immediately before the interview she
has a fight with her sister that leaves her cloths and face all dirty when
she's called in, and at first it looks as if she's got no chance, but then
translator Poto makes a fool of himself in front of the attending
chieftains and the judge (James Davenport) while she manages to hold her
own, and all of a sudden, a freak wind targeted specifically at Poto seems
to be sent here as if the land was punishing the man. The judge is so
impressed that he not only grants Viki's scholarship but also clears her
father's name. A film targeted specifically at the festival and
world cinema crowd: It walks an extra mile for authenticity and spends
what seems like hours presenting Rotuman rituals documentary style, while
at times totally forgetting the film's narrative - which is pretty feeble and
full of clichés to begin with. Also the movie goes to some extra length
transmitting feminist, socialist and back-to-the-roots messages festival
audiences all over the world seem to love. Now that
all would be fine, and I can back most of the film's messages 100% - what
I can't back though is the clumsy way they are transported and
represented, as if the filmmakers did not actually want to give their
audiences food for thoughts but just reassure them in their own beliefs.
All of this wouldn't even be half bad if everything was carried by an
imaginative directorial effort - but no, the direction of The Land has
Eyes is merely functional, full of heavy-handed symbols, and fails to
bring its key scenes (like the pig stampede or Poto's punishment) to life
in the slightest. The strong point of the film on the other hand is its
lead actress Sapeta Taito, but her powerful performance isn't nearly
enough to turn the movie around. (I might feel obliged to state here that
reportedly Sapeta Taito, whose debut this was, has never even seen a movie
before being in this one - but that might just be a cute little
PR-fabrication.) By the way, the English title of this film is
not an hommage to cult-shocker The
Hills have Eyes but refers to a Rotuman proverb that's repeatedly
used in this film.
|
review © by Mike Haberfelner
|
Feeling lucky? Want to search any of my partnershops yourself for more, better results? (commissions earned) |
The links below will take you just there!!!
|
|
|
Thanks for watching !!!
|
|
|
Robots and rats,
demons and potholes, cuddly toys and shopping mall Santas,
love and death and everything in between,
Tales to Chill Your Bones to is all of that.
Tales to Chill Your Bones to -
a collection of short stories and mini-plays ranging from the horrific to the darkly humourous,
from the post-apocalyptic to the weirdly romantic,
tales that will give you a chill and maybe a chuckle,
all thought up by the twisted mind of screenwriter and film reviewer Michael Haberfelner.
Tales to Chill Your Bones to
the new anthology by Michael Haberfelner
Out now from Amazon!!! |
|