Idaho International Film Festival
 

THE LAND HAS EYES

Vilsoni Hereniko
2004, Fiji/USA, Narrative, 87 minutes

In Rotuman and English
with English subtitles

www.thelandhaseyes.com
The Land Has Eyes  

The land has teeth and knows the truth – A Rotuman proverb.

Viki, a sensitive young girl on the remote South Pacific island of Rotuma, listens intently to her father’s tale about seven brothers The Land Has Eyes and their sister on a voyaging canoe: the eldest brother commits an unforgivable act and the brothers abandon her.

Her struggle to survive, determination, grueling work and a difficult birth transform her into the island’s first inhabitant: the Rotuman Warrior Woman – played by acclaimed South Pacific actress Rena Owen (best known for her stunning performance in Once Were Warriors.

In the present, the reality of life in Viki’s village demands hard physical work instead of intellectual and artistic pursuits, but her father encourages her to develop her scholastic abilities, and nurtures her questioning, probing nature. Viki is shamed by her village after her father is accused (and convicted) for a crime he didn’t commit, The Land Has Eyes and Viki turns to the mythical ‘Warrior Woman’ for guidance.

Stunning cinematography, an incredible performance from the young lead actress and a a strong mythological underpinning make this a unique and arresting independent film. After its premiere at the Sundance Film Festival, The Land Has Eyes played in Russia, England, South Korea and a number of other countries before coming to Boise.



The Egyptian Theater, Friday, September 30th at 12:00pm

The Egyptian Theater, Saturday, October 1st at 7:00pm