Movie Review: Oscar nominated for Best Foreign Film, TANNA is a superbly poetic tribal love story

By Roger Costa

In a state of doubts and uncertainty, after discussing the meanings of love with her father, and revealing her own expectations from it, a young woman rushes to the top of a Volcano seeking enlightenment. She is running from her fears of losing the man she loves, a warrior from a different tribe, which according to the traditions is forbidden as it is a chief’s decision to arrange marriage. There, she coincidentally meets her prohibited lover, and as they stand up together to consummate and testify their strong desire, the Volcano calmly erupts reflecting the sparkling intensity of their pure, naturally spontaneous mutuality. The scene is the core of this visually arresting production performed by non-professional actors, people from the actual tribes which the film is based on a true story of forbidden lovers. Directors Bentley Dean and Martin Butler capture the harmony and respect they share with each other, with nature and specially the Volcano, considered their spiritual guidance, source of wisdom and protection, with deeply affection and interest for their habitual unity, sometimes in exquisite, preciously serene semi-documental shots.

The ritualistic aesthetic predominates as its powerful and unique elegance, from women’s beauty preparations, washes and dances to the songs-related meetings between the tribe’s leaders, a healing process of singing the disease away, and from the philosophical conversations among young and old to the sexual tension existing on their secret encounters. But primarily, the walks to the Volcano, done with such devotion and humbly claiming for settlement in heart, mind and soul, appear as the strongest element in the film, the only one to embrace any need or suffering and to encourage their decisions.

The inspiring and magically touching love story of Wawa and Dain, young tribal lovers who defied tradition and family standards in 1987’s Pacific island of the Australian wilderness known as TANNA has been nominated for the upcoming Oscars for Best Foreign Language Film representing their culture, their dependence and respect for nature, their resistance to civilization and capitalism, and most importantly, how real love breaks all barries and conquers it all. Narrated with poetical, meditative skills and efficiency as it depicts the conflicts arisen, the directors along with the actors created a truthful and unique cinematic achievement.