90
Screen Daily by Fionnuala Halligan
It’s a beautiful odyssey with strong spiritual undertones.
Tanna
Critic Rating
(read reviews)User Rating
- Australia,
- Vanuatu
- 2015
- · 100m
Director
Bentley Dean
Cast
Mungau Dain,
Marie Wawa,
Marceline Rofit,
Kapan Cook,
Charlie Kahla
Genre
Drama,
Romance
In a traditional tribal society in the South Pacific, a young girl, Wawa, falls in love with her chief’s grandson, Dain. When an inter-tribal war escalates, Wawa is unknowingly betrothed as part of a peace deal. Suddenly, Wawa and Dain must choose between their hearts and the tribe, while the tribe is forced to reconsider their long-standing values.
Stream Tanna
What are critics saying?
90
Variety by Richard Kuipers
The pic weaves fascinating details of tribal life into a universally accessible and emotionally affecting romantic drama.
90
Screen International by Fionnuala Halligan
It’s a beautiful odyssey with strong spiritual undertones.
90
The Hollywood Reporter by David Rooney
Told with captivating simplicity and yet richly cinematic, it combines ethnographic and spiritual elements in a haunting love story with classic undertones, affording a glimpse into a little-known culture.
83
The Film Stage by Jared Mobarak
It’s a familiar tale pitting selfish desire against the greater good, but it’s like nothing you’ve ever seen thanks to the wondrous South Pacific landscapes.
80
CineVue by John Bleasdale
Dean doubles as cinematographer and his ability to unobtrusively capture moments of village life is matched for an eye for the natural beauty the tribe lives amidst. But it's a beauty which never drowns the film. There's also room for jokes and gossip, nastiness and fun.
80
Los Angeles Times by Kenneth Turan
Most surprising are the involving performances of all concerned, but especially the pair playing the young lovers, actors with finely expressive eyes and faces.
80
Village Voice by Nick Schager
Subtly visualizing the connection shared between the land and its people (and their interior conditions), Tanna proves rich in both sociological detail and roiling emotions.
80
The Guardian
Tanna has a warm, shimmering vitality. Like the trees and the birds, the frame feels alive.
80
The Guardian by Luke Buckmaster
Tanna has a warm, shimmering vitality. Like the trees and the birds, the frame feels alive.
75
Washington Post by Stephanie Merry
The movie is a tremendous accomplishment, especially considering that the cast had never seen cameras before — much less movies — yet still agreed to star in the drama. Their performances are as stunning as the setting, and that’s truly saying something.
50
The New York Times by Glenn Kenny
Despite its best efforts, Tanna drifts into a mode of exoticism that renders it an ultimately frustrating experience.
50
Slant Magazine by Chuck Bowen
The film blends the Bard with National Geographic, failing to make a case for the inexplicability of their union.
Loading recommendations...
Loading recommendations...