Figure 1.-- One of the first documentary film was shot in Samoa-- the silent classic 'Moana' which captured life in Polynesia (1926). It was filmed in and around the isolated village of Safune. The director was Robert J. Flaherty who lived in the village for more than a year and befriended his subjects had an unprecedented opportunity to film the villagers (April 1923 - December 1924).Flaherty chose a landscape and climate that could not have been more different than the snowy setting of his better known documentary -- 'Nanook of the North'. Flaherty records the customs of the people of Samoa by focusing on the life and the coming of age ceremony of a young man named Moana. It is of interest principally because it cdaptures Polynesian culture before it was significantly impacted by Western culture. Every day tasks like cooking, fishing, hunting and gathering comprise much of the film. Flaherty depicts Samoa as a earthly paradice in the tropics, rther like the Garden of Eden. This is a photograph from a magazine article discussing the making of the film.

One of the first documentary film was shot in Samoa-- the silent classic 'Moana' which captured life in Polynesia (1926). It was filmed in and around the isolated village of Safune. The director was Robert J. Flaherty who lived in the village for more than a year and befriended his subjects had an unprecedented opportunity to film the villagers (April 1923 - December 1924). He and wife Frances Flaherty took their three young children and a red-haired Irish nursemaid. The Samoans were intrgued by her abnd named her 'Mumu' or 'Red'. Flaherty's younger brother David served as production manager. Flaherty chose a landscape and climate that could not have been more different than the snowy setting of his better known documentary -- 'Nanook of the North'. Flaherty records the customs of the people of Samoa by focusing on the life and the coming of age ceremony of a young man named Moana. It is of interest principally because it cdaptures Polynesian culture before it was significantly impacted by Western culture. Every day tasks like cooking, fishing, hunting and gathering comprise much of the film. Flaherty depicts Samoa as a earthly paradice in the tropics, rther like the Garden of Eden. Only wild boars and painful tattooing present minor discomfort to the Samoans.

Created: 5:29 AM 7/21/2011
Last updated: 5:29 AM 7/21/2011