Moana

1926 1h 38m EN

👍

6.7

SOLID

★6.7TMDB · 38

Documentary

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

In the South Seas, Samoan village life is portrayed with a painterly eye. Blending ethnographic detail with a romanticized 'Gauguin idyll', the film celebrates daily rituals, communal traditions, and the passage into adulthood, suffused pride of beauty and pride of strength.

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

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Where to watch · US

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Cast

Ta'avale
Moana
Fa'amgase
Moana's Fiancé
Tama
Moana's Father
T'ugaita
Moana's Mother
Pe'a
Moana's Younger Brother
Leupenga
Moana's Older Brother

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Robert Flaherty
Writers: Julian Johnson, Robert Flaherty, Frances H. Flaherty
Languages: No Language
Countries: United States of America, Samoa

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

ERA

Did you know

100 years old — a genuine piece of film history.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

International production across 2 countries: United States of America, Samoa.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

RUNTIME

Did you know

Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Robert Flaherty, shot by Robert Flaherty. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by James C. Bradford. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Julian Johnson shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Ta'avale and Fa'amgase and Tama carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0017162 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Robert Flaherty directs. Robert Flaherty behind the camera. James C. Bradford scores. Julian Johnson cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Produced in United States of America, Samoa. Dialogue in No Language.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1100 years old — a genuine piece of film history.
2International production across 2 countries: United States of America, Samoa.
3Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.
4Directed by Robert Flaherty, shot by Robert Flaherty. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
5Original score by James C. Bradford. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
6Editor Julian Johnson shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
7Ta'avale and Fa'amgase and Tama carry the top of the cast.
8IMDB entry: tt0017162 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
9Only 38 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.
10Classified under 19 themes, including "south seas", "indigenous", "coconut", "tattooing".