Tanna

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Bentley Dean directs. Bentley Dean behind the camera. Antony Partos scores. Tania Nehme cuts. Produced in Australia, Vanuatu. Dialogue in Bislama.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

• 1Released 11 years ago.
• 2International production across 2 countries: Australia, Vanuatu.
• 3Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.
• 4Directed by Bentley Dean, shot by Bentley Dean. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
• 5Original score by Antony Partos. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
• 6Editor Tania Nehme shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
• 7Mungau Dain and Marie Wawa and Marceline Rofit carry the top of the cast.
• 8Marketing tagline: "Two tribes. One love.".
• 9IMDB entry: tt4239726 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
• 10Classified under 14 themes, including "beach", "tradition", "indigenous", "arranged marriage".

The technical file

Cinematography

Bentley Dean

Original score

Antony Partos

Editing

Tania Nehme

Runtime

104 min · 1h 44m

Status

Released

Original language

EN

IMDB

Tanna (2015) ↗

Also by

Bentley Dean

• 
  Amongst Us - Neo Nazi Australia

  2022
• 
  Contact

  2009
• 
  Facing Monsters

  2022
• 
  The Siege

  2007

Trailers & featurettes

Watch the pieces

• 

  ▶
  TANNA - Trailer (2016)

  Trailer · Official

Community reviews

What people are saying

• Reno2017-02-24
  ★ 8/10

  Romeo-Juliet of Tanna island tribe. The film is this year's version of 'Embrace of the Serpent' at the Oscars. Yes, it is one of the five films to clash for the tag of the Best Foreign Language Film on the behalf of the Australia. Though the entire film was shot on Vanuatu's Tanna island and Nauvahal was the language spoken in it with the natives performing the film roles. This was really a stunning film. I had a misconception during my childhood that all tribal people, mostly from the deep jungles are so cruel just like the North Sentinel Island people. I never visited such place or met such people, but some documentaries and feature films taught me many things. This is one of those films to highlight them and their culture. The people from the Tanna island rejected to adopt the outside culture just to save theirs, which is used to be thousands of years old. Everything was taught to their kids, from hunting and gathering to the growing fruits, vegetables and livestocks. But they too have rivals with their neighbour tribe that sometimes end with casualties on the both sides. This film was a romance-drama, when the young couple's love was rejected by their elders, how they fought for it, which forced to bring a reform in their custom was told. This is like the Vanuatu's version of Romeo-Juliet tale. While watching it, my heart was pounding faster. Because since I don't know these people and their traditions, I thought something terrible going to happen sooner or later. The film did not have any strong violence, but the storyline led to such situation often. Even in the final stage, they silently ended the narration with a message. But remember this film was based on the true story that took place in the 80s. "Our tribes are the last keepers of Kastom. We have to hold it tight to survive." Their performances were natural, since the events of the film were based on their daily life. So they knew what they were doing. It was an advantage for the filmmakers, like they were making a documentary, despite they wrote the screenplay for it. Everyone played their own real life character to depict the actual event. Particularly the lead ones, Dain, Wawa, Selin and a few others were impressive. Awesome cinematography, as well as background score. The locations were amazing, including that live volcanic mountain. Despite their presence in the region for centuries, it looks untouched and wild. This film is what something you won't see in your daily life. It was not a romance like in our society, but men and women falling in love in any culture/society are the same. The film was not entirely a love tale, but step by step it gets there. In the initial parts, it was an introduction to their customs with a little fun. Followed by revealing they are not alone. Then comes the turn in the story where the remaining parts have a new fast paced thrill look. My point is we have seen hundreds of romance films, but this is one of those rare ones where 90 per cent of the world never going to meet these real people in their lives. So thanks to the filmmakers for giving this beautiful precious film. The first feature film for the documentary filmmakers and it made into the American Academy Awards. A great achievement, especially recognising such film by the Australian film society, as well as the Academy juries for nominating it. I'll be looking forward and cheering for them on their red carpet appearance. Though this film has a less chance over Denmark's 'Under Sandet' which is the front-runner. Don't mind that, just watch this film, because it is worth on its own merit than watching it after winning an award. Recommended! 8/10

  Read full review ↓

Production companies

Who made it

• CO

  Contact Films

Key crew

• ProducerMartin Butler
• ProducerCarolyn Johnson
• EditorTania Nehme
• ProducerBentley Dean
• VocalsLisa Gerrard

Themes & keywords

What it's about, really

• beach
• tradition
• indigenous
• arranged marriage
• volcano
• tribe
• love
• pacific island
• volcanic eruption
• indigenous australians
• indigenous peoples
• vanuatu
• admiring
• informative

Release history · US

When it landed

• Theatrical (limited)2016-09-16· New York City, New York
• Theatrical (limited)2016-05-04· New York African Film Festival

Also known as

International titles

• TabooAU