The Orator (film)
| The Orator | |
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| Directed by | Tusi Tamasese |
| Produced by | Catherine Fitzgerald |
| Written by | Tusi Tamasese |
| Starring |
Fa'afiaula Sagote Tausili Pushparaj |
| Music by | Tim Prebble |
| Cinematography | Leon Narbey |
| Edited by | Simon Price |
| Distributed by | Transmission Films |
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Release date
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Running time
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110 min |
| Country | Samoa New Zealand |
| Language | Samoan |
The Orator (Samoan: O Le Tulafale) is a 2011 Samoan 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 was selected as the New Zealand entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 84th Academy Awards, but it did not make the final shortlist. It is the first time New Zealand has submitted a film in this category.
Manu Asafo has described the film as an attempt "to portray Samoan culture". It shows 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 (ifoga).
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 Commission and by the Samoan government. Maiava Nathaniel Lees and Michael Eldred are associate producers, and Samoan chief Manu Asafo served as cultural advisor.
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