nweston-95049 I have seen a few reviews both here and on other sites that make me laugh in relation to the reviewer's knowledge of the movie "plot" and of Tanna Island itself.NO, NO, NO! Tanna is NOT in a remote part of Australia nor is it a part of the Solomon Island group.Tanna is one of the 97 Islands in the Republic of Vanuatu, (Formerly known as the New Hebrides until independence in 1980.)There is no such word as "Vanuatuan" it is just Vanuatu. The people are known as Ni-Vanuatu (basically meaning 'born Vanuatu'), not "Indians".For those who thought that the 'plot' was a bit thin, what were the film makers supposed to do? The 'plot' is based on REAL events that happened just as 'recently' as 1987. Would it have been right for the film makers to fabricate a different story or outcome?One of the real take aways from the movie and the events themselves was just how quickly the Ni-Vanuatu people reacted to the sad outcome that was initially brought on by the prior custom of arranged marriages.The people in the movie may be viewed by some as 'uneducated savages', but hey, they stopped arranged marriages in 1987, the Royal Family of Britain were still wanting to arrange marriages until Prince William and Prince Harry turned the tide.The other thing that gains some criticism, is that the film gets a bit slow from time to time. Yes, I agree that it does.But I think what the movie makers were trying to create, was not just a typical movie with just a storyline, they were trying to draw us into knowing the people of Vanuatu better, they were giving us incredible images of the great beauty of the country and it's islands, and they were showing us that Vanuatu is "another time, another pace".Things do tend to happen a bit slowly in Vanuatu, and the Pacific Islands as a whole. The term 'Pacific Time' is well known to seasoned travellers.In Vanuatu, you learn to slow down, look around and see and appreciate the little things in life. Take time to smell the Hibiscus and the fresh clean environment.Sure there is violence, but also look at the simple pleasures and happiness gained by the people. People living happily and contentedly without the need for material things that we think are so important to our lives.People living together, supporting one another and coming together and resolving issues in times of turmoil and grief.Look beyond the storyline and our own ideas of life and see that these 'primitive' people have so much to teach us 'civilised' ones, if we just take the time to stop and really look.

Sharon Halstead I've been trying to expand my horizons outside of my usual genre so I chose Tanna as an experiment and I'm glad I did. Unusual in that the cast are not professional actors but the actual tribe members that live on the island. They did an excellent job, better than some professionals I have seen. Story is simple; several tribes that inhabit the island have a custom of arranged marriages between tribes in order to keep the peace between them. One young woman and man from the same tribe are in love yet she is chosen to be the bride offering that year to another, warlike tribe. The young couple run off together to try to make a life and we see the trials they go through as well as the effect this has on all the tribes. I can't say much more than that but found out at the end this was based on a true story. Well worth watching for the story, the beautiful scenery and witnessing the workings of a much simpler and freer culture than mine here in the United States.

billcr12 Tanna is a remote part of Australia, populated by indigenous people who are separated by years of what can be described a small scale civil war. What they share is a tradition of arranged marriage. After the killing of a respected elder, the chiefs have a meeting to stop the bloodshed. One part of the settlement is the exchange of young women, given as brides to the opposing tribe. This is where things go wrong quickly as the betrothed young lady, Wawa, has fallen in love with Dain, a young man in her village. The scenery is breathtaking, especially the shots of an active volcano, a sacred place to the villagers. The young couple decide to fight their elders wishes and hit the road; or forest, in this case, in an attempt to live happily after ever. What happens makes Tanna a truly universal story which translates to every society anywhere on earth. The leads have excellent chemistry and I was completely absorbed by the world of Wawa and Dain.

nicolaskonstantin This movie is wonderfully shot, giving you a taste of life at Tanna. I wanted to watch this movie to better understand people on this island after I read autobiography of John Paton, a missionary to Tanna. I am a bit disheartened by portrayal of Christians in this movie as some kind of weirdoes. And when the chief said that they though off the colonial powers, money, Christians etc., he did not mention this cannibalistic tribe, robbed, ransacked, killed and ate missionaries who brought medicine, written language, hope and so much more to the people of Tanna. The Christian church was built on their blood and bones that are still there in the ground of Tanna. But that would, of course, take away from the main story of love, which is very beautiful and touching. I thought I would write about something that I felt was unjustly treated in the movie. Great movie. I wholeheartedly recommend.