The Orator
Encyclopedia
The Orator is a 2011 Samoa
n and New Zealand
film written and directed by Tusi Tamasese
. It is the first ever Samoan feature film
, "entirely shot in Samoa, in the Samoan language
, with a Samoan cast and story". The film has been selected as the New Zealand entry for the Best Foreign Language Film
at the 84th Academy Awards
, and is the first time New Zealand have submitted a film in this category.
", showing Samoans "surrounded by family and support", in accordance with fa'aSamoa
(the "Samoan way"). The New Zealand Film Commission
describes it as showcasing not only "Samoan tradition and values", but also "universal" themes: "love, courage, personal adversity and honour". Samoan Deputy Prime Minister Misa Telefoni has described it as "a beautiful and poignant love story" which brings "the finest aspects of traditions of our Samoan culture into the international spotlight".
The main character, Saili, a "simple villager", a taro
farmer and a dwarf
, must "find the strength" to "defend his land and family, which are threatened by powerful adversaries". "He ultimately attempts to reclaim his father's chiefly status, even if the current ageing village chief does not believe he has the physique or the oratory skill required."
Tamasese described his film as "my image of what I see of growing up in Samoa", and "a bit like a tour. You get thrown into this place and you are seeing things", witnessing aspects of Samoan life without explanation - such as evening prayer time (sa), or ritual atonement
(ifoga).
and by the Samoan government. Maiava Nathaniel Lees and Michael Eldred are associate producers, and Samoan chief Manu Asafo served as cultural advisor.
Filming was completed in January 2011, with the film scheduled to be screened in cinemas later in the year.
The Orator "will be distributed in New Zealand, Australia and the Pacific by Transmission Films", while NZ Film will handle distribution beyond Oceania
. Misa Telefoni, who is also Samoan Minister for Tourism, has expressed hope that the film will attract international attention to Samoa, and promote the country as a tourist destination.
The film had its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival
, in Italy
on 3 September 2011. This was the first time that Samoa
were represented at the festival and saw a return for New Zealand after a 4 year absence (the last film shown at the festival was Cargo).
The Orator premiered in Samoa's only cinema -Magik Cinema in Apia- on 1 October 2011. It will be screened in cinemas in New Zealand on 6 October.
Variety
described it as "a compelling drama", an "exploration of love, death and bitter family conflict that unfolds in sync with the relaxed rhythms of Pacific island life", and an "ausipicious debut" for Tamasese. Sagote, in the lead role, was "tremendously soulful-eyed", while Pushparaj was "excellent", "exuding the dignity of a queen":
The Hollywood Reporter praised the film as "a beautifully nuanced debut" with a "deeply moving climax", which both "succeeds on one level as an insider’s intricate cultural study" and "is powered by a slow-burning underdog drama that canvasses weighty themes of family honor, courage and redemption". It also praised Sagote as "already a master of non-verbal communication. Quiet and watchful, he speaks volumes with his eyes".
The Camden Advertiser encouraged readers to see the film, saying its most interesting aspect was "the observation of the intricacies of the Samoan culture - which hitherto had not been committed to cinema" and which are conveyed "very subtly within a very universal tale".
Writing for the New Zealand Herald, Samoan New Zealander
Cherelle Jackson said the film was culturally accurate, touching and "beautifully done", and that it "makes no pretence, it doesn't make the Samoan culture look beautiful and admirable, it draws out the violence, the hatred, the slanted hierarchy and ultimately the discriminating nature of our people in a story line that happens in real life".
Samoa
Samoa , officially the Independent State of Samoa, formerly known as Western Samoa is a country encompassing the western part of the Samoan Islands in the South Pacific Ocean. It became independent from New Zealand in 1962. The two main islands of Samoa are Upolu and one of the biggest islands in...
n and New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
film written and directed by Tusi Tamasese
Tusi Tamasese
Tusi Tamasese is a Samoan New Zealander film director.He is of high chiefly descent, of the Tupua Tamasese lineage....
. It is the first ever Samoan 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...
, "entirely shot in Samoa, in the Samoan language
Samoan language
Samoan Samoan Samoan (Gagana Sāmoa, is the language of the Samoan Islands, comprising the independent country of Samoa and the United States territory of American Samoa. It is an official language—alongside English—in both jurisdictions. Samoan, a Polynesian language, is the first language for most...
, with a Samoan cast and story". The film has been selected as the New Zealand entry for the Best Foreign Language Film
Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film
The Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film is one of the Academy Awards of Merit, popularly known as the Oscars, handed out annually by the U.S.-based Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences...
at the 84th Academy Awards
84th Academy Awards
The 84th Academy Awards ceremony will honor the best films of 2011 and will take place on February 26, 2012, at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, California. It will be televised in the United States on ABC. The host was originally going to be Eddie Murphy. However, after Brett Ratner resigned as...
, and is the first time New Zealand have submitted a film in this category.
Plot
The film has been described as an attempt "to portray Samoan cultureCulture of Samoa
The traditional culture of Samoa is a communal way of life based on Fa'a Samoa, the unique socio-political culture of Samoa. In Samoan culture, most activities are done together. There are 3 main parts in the Samoan culture, that is faith, family and music.The traditional living quarters, or fale ,...
", showing Samoans "surrounded by family and support", in accordance with fa'aSamoa
Fa'asamoa
Fa'asamoa literally means the ways of Samoa. Fa'a is a Samoan prefix that can be translated to English as 'the ways of'. Fa'a could also mean 'to do' or 'to implement' as in the word Fa'atonu .-Concept:...
(the "Samoan way"). The New Zealand Film Commission
New Zealand Film Commission
The New Zealand Film Commission is a New Zealand government agency formed to assist with creating and promoting New Zealand films...
describes it as showcasing not only "Samoan tradition and values", but also "universal" themes: "love, courage, personal adversity and honour". Samoan Deputy Prime Minister Misa Telefoni has described it as "a beautiful and poignant love story" which brings "the finest aspects of traditions of our Samoan culture into the international spotlight".
The main character, Saili, a "simple villager", a taro
Taro
Taro is a common name for the corms and tubers of several plants in the family Araceae . Of these, Colocasia esculenta is the most widely cultivated, and is the subject of this article. More specifically, this article describes the 'dasheen' form of taro; another variety is called eddoe.Taro is...
farmer and a dwarf
Dwarfism
Dwarfism is short stature resulting from a medical condition. It is sometimes defined as an adult height of less than 4 feet 10 inches , although this definition is problematic because short stature in itself is not a disorder....
, must "find the strength" to "defend his land and family, which are threatened by powerful adversaries". "He ultimately attempts to reclaim his father's chiefly status, even if the current ageing village chief does not believe he has the physique or the oratory skill required."
Tamasese described his film as "my image of what I see of growing up in Samoa", and "a bit like a tour. You get thrown into this place and you are seeing things", witnessing aspects of Samoan life without explanation - such as evening prayer time (sa), or ritual atonement
Atonement
Atonement is a doctrine that describes how human beings can be reconciled to God. In Christian theology the atonement refers to the forgiving or pardoning of sin through the death of Jesus Christ by crucifixion, which made possible the reconciliation between God and creation...
(ifoga).
Cast
- Fa'afiaula SagoteFa'afiaula SagoteFa'afiaula Sagote is a Samoan actor.He was working as a taro farmer and carpenter when he was approached by director Tusi Tamasese, who offered him the lead part -that of dwarf farmer Saili- in what was to be Samoa's first ever feature film, The Orator...
as Saili - Tausili Pushparaj as his wife Vaaiga
- Salamasina Mataia as Vaaiga's daughter Litia
- Ioata Tanielu as Vaaiga's brother Poto
Production and distribution
Written and directed by Tusi Tamasese (previously the writer and director of short film Va Tapuia), The Orator is produced by Catherine Fitzgerald, shot by Leon Narbey, and financed by the New Zealand Film CommissionNew Zealand Film Commission
The New Zealand Film Commission is a New Zealand government agency formed to assist with creating and promoting New Zealand films...
and by the Samoan government. Maiava Nathaniel Lees and Michael Eldred are associate producers, and Samoan chief Manu Asafo served as cultural advisor.
Filming was completed in January 2011, with the film scheduled to be screened in cinemas later in the year.
The Orator "will be distributed in New Zealand, Australia and the Pacific by Transmission Films", while NZ Film will handle distribution beyond Oceania
Oceania
Oceania is a region centered on the islands of the tropical Pacific Ocean. Conceptions of what constitutes Oceania range from the coral atolls and volcanic islands of the South Pacific to the entire insular region between Asia and the Americas, including Australasia and the Malay Archipelago...
. Misa Telefoni, who is also Samoan Minister for Tourism, has expressed hope that the film will attract international attention to Samoa, and promote the country as a tourist destination.
The film had its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival
68th Venice International Film Festival
The 68th annual Venice Film Festival, held in Venice, Italy, took place from 31 August to 10 September 2011. American film director Darren Aronofsky was announced as the Head of the Jury. American actor and film director Al Pacino was presented with the Glory to the Film-maker award on 4 September,...
, in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
on 3 September 2011. This was the first time that Samoa
Samoa
Samoa , officially the Independent State of Samoa, formerly known as Western Samoa is a country encompassing the western part of the Samoan Islands in the South Pacific Ocean. It became independent from New Zealand in 1962. The two main islands of Samoa are Upolu and one of the biggest islands in...
were represented at the festival and saw a return for New Zealand after a 4 year absence (the last film shown at the festival was Cargo).
The Orator premiered in Samoa's only cinema -Magik Cinema in Apia- on 1 October 2011. It will be screened in cinemas in New Zealand on 6 October.
Reception
The New Zealand Herald noted:- "Thanks in large part to the almost edibly gorgeous cinematography of Leon Narbey, the film is a sumptuously moody visual experience: the opening shot, of rain on a mountain, might have been painted by McCahonColin McCahonColin John McCahon was a prominent New Zealand artist. During his life he also worked in art galleries and as a university lecturer...
; water runs mercury-silver off taroTaroTaro is a common name for the corms and tubers of several plants in the family Araceae . Of these, Colocasia esculenta is the most widely cultivated, and is the subject of this article. More specifically, this article describes the 'dasheen' form of taro; another variety is called eddoe.Taro is...
leaves; tiny details like a snail on a gravestone are lingered over lovingly. The sound design is equally precise and evocative. - Importantly, it's a film of great patience and watchfulness. Shots of 10 seconds are the rule, not the exception; you can feel your heartbeat slow as you watch it."
Variety
Variety (magazine)
Variety is an American weekly entertainment-trade magazine founded in New York City, New York, in 1905 by Sime Silverman. With the rise of the importance of the motion-picture industry, Daily Variety, a daily edition based in Los Angeles, California, was founded by Silverman in 1933. In 1998, the...
described it as "a compelling drama", an "exploration of love, death and bitter family conflict that unfolds in sync with the relaxed rhythms of Pacific island life", and an "ausipicious debut" for Tamasese. Sagote, in the lead role, was "tremendously soulful-eyed", while Pushparaj was "excellent", "exuding the dignity of a queen":
- "Tamasese gradually weaves the separate story strands together (fittingly, given the centrality of straw mats that various characters weave and give as gifts in the story), culminating in a scene in which Saili must make a ceremonial oration after a tragedy - a touchingly crafted and performed sequence that grips as drama and as an insightful look at the Samoan way of life.
- Script offers an insider's view of a society that just about keeps a lid on simmering violence through complex, ritualized forms of group interaction and humor, a portrait that goes some way toward exploding the myth of Samoans as peace-loving, noble-savage proto-hippies. Balance of cultural insights and storytelling makes for a universally appealing yarn that renders the exotic comprehensible, although the film's stately pace may prove challenging to viewers with shorter attention spans."
The Hollywood Reporter praised the film as "a beautifully nuanced debut" with a "deeply moving climax", which both "succeeds on one level as an insider’s intricate cultural study" and "is powered by a slow-burning underdog drama that canvasses weighty themes of family honor, courage and redemption". It also praised Sagote as "already a master of non-verbal communication. Quiet and watchful, he speaks volumes with his eyes".
The Camden Advertiser encouraged readers to see the film, saying its most interesting aspect was "the observation of the intricacies of the Samoan culture - which hitherto had not been committed to cinema" and which are conveyed "very subtly within a very universal tale".
Writing for the New Zealand Herald, Samoan New Zealander
Samoan New Zealander
Samoan New Zealanders are Samoan immigrants in New Zealand, their descendants, and New Zealanders of Samoan ethnic descent. They constitute one of New Zealand's most sizeable ethnic minorities...
Cherelle Jackson said the film was culturally accurate, touching and "beautifully done", and that it "makes no pretence, it doesn't make the Samoan culture look beautiful and admirable, it draws out the violence, the hatred, the slanted hierarchy and ultimately the discriminating nature of our people in a story line that happens in real life".
See also
- List of submissions to the 84th Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language Film
- List of New Zealand submissions for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film
External link
- The film's trailer on NZonScreen