The Land Has Eyes
Encyclopedia
The Land Has Eyes is a 2004 Fiji Islander
film
written and directed by Vilsoni Hereniko
. It is the first ever (and so far only) feature film
from Fiji.
), is a young Rotuma
n woman shamed as the daughter of a man wrongly accused of being a thief. She finds inspiration in a mysterious "Warrior Woman" (Rena Owen
) from her people's legends.
, homeland of director Vilsoni Hereniko. Lead actress Sapeta Taito is Rotuman, and The Land Has Eyes is her first film appearance. She had, in fact, never seen a film before acting in this one. Rena Owen is best known for playing the lead female role in Once Were Warriors
. The film also stars John Fatiaki
as a corrupt court official.
in 2004, as well as a number of other international film festivals. It was Fiji's official submission to the 2006 Academy Awards.
The Star Bulletin (Hawai'i) praised the film, "made on a shoestring budget". The Honolulu Advertiser
noted that it "received an enthusiastic reception from the audience" at the Sundance Festival. A reviewer for the Advertiser explained that "All but two cast members were recruited from Rotuma. Most had never seen a movie before, much less acted in one. When the film was finished, Hereniko brought it back to Rotuma, borrowed a sheet from the hospital to use as a screen, and showed it eight times around the island." The reviewer recommended the film, and concluded:
A reviewer from the Seattle Weekly
wrote:
The Land Has Eyes received the "Best Overall Entry" award at the 2005 Wairoa Maori Film Festival
, and the "Best Dramatic Feature" award at the 2004 Toronto ImagineNative Film & Media Arts Festival
.
Fiji
Fiji , officially the Republic of Fiji , is an island nation in Melanesia in the South Pacific Ocean about northeast of New Zealand's North Island...
film
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
written and directed by Vilsoni Hereniko
Vilsoni Hereniko
Vilsoni Hereniko is a Fiji Islander playwright, film director and academic. He was the writer and director of Fiji's first ever feature film, The Land Has Eyes .-Biography:...
. It is the first ever (and so far only) feature film
Feature film
In the film industry, a feature film is a film production made for initial distribution in theaters and being the main attraction of the screening, rather than a short film screened before it; a full length movie...
from Fiji.
Plot
The main character, Viki (Sapeta TaitoSapeta Taito
Sapeta Sokag‘aitu Taito is a Fiji Islander actress. She played the lead role in Fiji's first feature film, The Land Has Eyes, in 2004.-Biography:Born in Suva, Fiji, Taito moved to Rotuma at a young age...
), is a young Rotuma
Rotuma
Rotuma is a Fijian dependency, consisting of Rotuma Island and nearby islets. The island group is home to a small but unique indigenous ethnic group which constitutes a recognizable minority within the population of Fiji, known as "Rotumans"...
n woman shamed as the daughter of a man wrongly accused of being a thief. She finds inspiration in a mysterious "Warrior Woman" (Rena Owen
Rena Owen
Rena Owen is a New Zealand actress in film, theatre and television. She is of Maori, Torres Strait Islander and Pakeha descent. Owen is most well known in the lead role of Beth in the cult classic movie Once Were Warriors directed by Lee Tamahori...
) from her people's legends.
Cast
- Sapeta TaitoSapeta TaitoSapeta Sokag‘aitu Taito is a Fiji Islander actress. She played the lead role in Fiji's first feature film, The Land Has Eyes, in 2004.-Biography:Born in Suva, Fiji, Taito moved to Rotuma at a young age...
as Viki - Rena OwenRena OwenRena Owen is a New Zealand actress in film, theatre and television. She is of Maori, Torres Strait Islander and Pakeha descent. Owen is most well known in the lead role of Beth in the cult classic movie Once Were Warriors directed by Lee Tamahori...
as Warrior Woman - Voi Fesaitu as Hapati
- Elisapeti Kafonika Inia as Mata
- John FatiakiJohn FatiakiDr John Charles Fatiaki is a career medical practitioner who was chosen by the Rotuma Island Council to be their representative in the Fijian Senate.- Education and early career :...
as Noa - Ritie Titofaga as Maurea
- James DavenportJames DavenportJames Davenport is the name of:*James Davenport , Hebron and Medlock Professor of Information Technology at the University of Bath*James Davenport , American clergyman from Connecticut...
as Judge Clarke - Maniue Vilsoni as Koroa
- Sarote Fonmanu as Rako / Teacher
- Emily Erasito as Hanisi - Viki's sister
Production
The film was shot on RotumaRotuma
Rotuma is a Fijian dependency, consisting of Rotuma Island and nearby islets. The island group is home to a small but unique indigenous ethnic group which constitutes a recognizable minority within the population of Fiji, known as "Rotumans"...
, homeland of director Vilsoni Hereniko. Lead actress Sapeta Taito is Rotuman, and The Land Has Eyes is her first film appearance. She had, in fact, never seen a film before acting in this one. Rena Owen is best known for playing the lead female role in Once Were Warriors
Once Were Warriors (film)
Once Were Warriors is a 1994 film based on New Zealand author Alan Duff's bestselling 1990 first novel. The film tells the story of an urban Māori family, the Hekes, and their problems with poverty, alcoholism and domestic violence, mostly brought on by family patriarch Jake...
. The film also stars John Fatiaki
John Fatiaki
Dr John Charles Fatiaki is a career medical practitioner who was chosen by the Rotuma Island Council to be their representative in the Fijian Senate.- Education and early career :...
as a corrupt court official.
Reception
The Land Has Eyes was presented at the Sundance Film FestivalSundance Film Festival
The Sundance Film Festival is a film festival that takes place annually in Utah, in the United States. It is the largest independent cinema festival in the United States. Held in January in Park City, Salt Lake City, and Ogden, as well as at the Sundance Resort, the festival is a showcase for new...
in 2004, as well as a number of other international film festivals. It was Fiji's official submission to the 2006 Academy Awards.
The Star Bulletin (Hawai'i) praised the film, "made on a shoestring budget". The Honolulu Advertiser
Honolulu Advertiser
The Honolulu Advertiser was a daily newspaper published in Honolulu, Hawaii. At the time publication ceased on June 6, 2010, it was the largest daily newspaper in the American state of Hawaii. It published daily with special Sunday and Internet editions...
noted that it "received an enthusiastic reception from the audience" at the Sundance Festival. A reviewer for the Advertiser explained that "All but two cast members were recruited from Rotuma. Most had never seen a movie before, much less acted in one. When the film was finished, Hereniko brought it back to Rotuma, borrowed a sheet from the hospital to use as a screen, and showed it eight times around the island." The reviewer recommended the film, and concluded:
- "Go see this movie if you have ever cringed over an outsider's misinterpretation of island culture. Go see this movie if you have ever cried over the systemic injustice visited upon poor, honest families. Go see this movie if your heart needs to hear that justice can prevail and that a force greater than all of us is watching and keeping score. Go see this movie if you want to be reminded that hard work leads to success. Go see this movie."
A reviewer from the Seattle Weekly
Seattle Weekly
Seattle Weekly is a freely distributed newspaper in Seattle, Washington, United States. It was founded by Darrell Oldham and David Brewster as The Weekly...
wrote:
- "The film is weak in conventional narrative and production values. [...] Yet that very authenticity is what gives Land its power. Hereniko captures the everyday texture of PolynesiaPolynesiaPolynesia is a subregion of Oceania, made up of over 1,000 islands scattered over the central and southern Pacific Ocean. The indigenous people who inhabit the islands of Polynesia are termed Polynesians and they share many similar traits including language, culture and beliefs...
n life: the clan connections that make nobody want to rock the boat [...], the tension between pagan and Christian beliefs, the power of ancient stories and rituals. [...] Land reminds us of the power of film to take us to another world."
The Land Has Eyes received the "Best Overall Entry" award at the 2005 Wairoa Maori Film Festival
Wairoa Maori Film Festival
The Wairoa Māori Film Festival is New Zealand's premiere Māori and indigenous film festival.The festival is held annually in the small coastal town of Wairoa, Hawke's Bay, during the Matariki celebration period....
, and the "Best Dramatic Feature" award at the 2004 Toronto ImagineNative Film & Media Arts Festival
Toronto ImagineNative Film & Media Arts Festival
The imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival is an indigenous film and media arts event, held annually in Toronto in the month of October, with the first festival in 1999. The imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival is an international festival in Toronto that celebrates the latest works by...
.
External links
- Official website
- "What Would the Warrior Woman Do?", Josephine Bridges, The Asian Reporter, April 12, 2005 (review)