THE LAND HAS EYES/ PEAR TA MA ‘ON MAF

Fiji, 2004, 86 minutes, Colour.
Sapeta Taito, Rena Owen.
Directed by Vilsoni Hereniko.

The Land has Eyes is a rare Fijian film, sponsored by local companies as well as by the Hubert Bals’ foundation in Rotterdam.

It comes from the island of Rotumo, 300 miles north of the main islands of Fiji. It uses the language, the mythical customs which are dramatized at the opening of the film with the story of the six brothers and their system, the warrior princess, and was filmed on the island.

Sapeta K. Goh has a strong screen personality for the intense Viki, the young girl devoted to her father, steeped in the ways of the island, intelligent, reading books of Greek mythology, eager to study in the main islands of Fiji and to get a scholarship.

The film shows village life, the strength of the family, injustices from jealous neighbours, even a corrupt official who does false translations for the presiding white judge.

While this is a story of the islands, it is told in a rather straightforward way, relying on documentation of the way of life on the island as well as drawing on some of its mythology.

It was Fiji’s official submission to the Oscar for best foreign language film of 2006.

1. All in a Fijian film? From the island of the Rotumo? The language? The cast from the island? The musical heritage?

2. The location photography, the island, the village, the jungle? The musical score?

3. The title, the land has eyes and claws and knows the truth. The line from the warrior princess, from Vicki, as explained to the judge, to Porto, to the Elders? The land and indicating Viki father?

4. The opening, the telling of the story, the six are brothers, the sister, coming ashore, their brutality, the escape from the island, the departure? The sister remaining alone, the pig, her settling on the island, food and fish, the flowers, the garland’s? Her reappearance throughout the film, inspiring Viki, Viki being an embodiment of the princess?

5. The picture of the family, the honorable father, the hard-working mother, brothers, the sister in competition with Viki? Viki and her place?

6. Viki, precocious, with her father, her future, intelligence, going to school, top of the class, the possibility of a scholarship, going to Fiji, a sister jealousy and wanting to go to Fiji? The case against her father, listening in, the false translation for the judge, with her father, supporting him, his collapse, and not wanting him to go to hospital, fearing his death, the news of his death will?

7. Viki, going wild, into the ocean, the appearance of the princess? Her return, the clash of the fight, mad of her face, waiting for the interview?

8. The complainant against her father, the cutting of the coconuts, taking him to court, translation, Porto being a friend of the complainant? The false translation? The father condemned? The pathos of his death?

9. Viki, making fans, selling them to the women, correct the key, collecting the money to pay her father’s debt, paying it, the certificates?

10. Her being cantankerous with a little boy, in the garden, the flowers in the scent, his watching, is repaying the money?

11. The key, will her going berserk in the garden?

12. The interview with the governor, is questions, his being impressed, learning the truth, her quoting the title, the storm, bursting in, overcoming 0.0? Her in
pressing the governor with finances, the Elders and their response, read her the scholarship?

13. A happy ending? Hope? A story of the Pacific?