TRADITIONAL SAMOA FILMS NO. 1

This film is held by the BFI (ID: 365999).

Synopsis

Samoan cricket, ceremonies and other activities.

The village of Vaipouli in Savii, the larger of the two main islands of Western Samoa. The boys from the government secondary school play Samoan cricket using a three sided bat with teams of up to 50 a side and with fielders all over the place: on roofs, in trees, etc. Each team is supported by dancing teams and guitarists. Women bring singers and ceremonially present food for an honoured guest. A police guard of honour wears white kilts. A ship arrives. American Samoa. The harbour of Pago Pago with, in the background, the town and the 'Rainmaker' mountain which brings torrential rain every few minutes (as in Somerset Maugham's story "Rain"). Barrels of salt beef are unloaded from ships. Savii on W.Samoa again. In the village of Matavai a coconut is de-husked. American Samoa. School boys and girls perform traditional dances. Matavai. Bark cloth making; separation of inner and outer bark. Apia, the capital of W.Samoa. Easter race meeting. Different locations: bark cloth making and other activities. Suburban Kent! Mrs Milner in the garden showing finished mats.

Detailed commentary in donor file and on "Traditional Samoa films nos. 1 - 3 commentary" audio cassette. Material from films nos. 1-4 and 9-13 is used in nos. 5-7.

 

Titles

  • TRADITIONAL SAMOA FILMS NO. 1
 

Technical Data

Year:
1955
Running Time:
22 minutes
Film Gauge (Format):
16mm Film
Colour:
Colour
Sound:
Silent
Footage:
800 ft
 

Production Credits

Production Countries:
Great Britain
Photography
MILNER, George B.
 

Countries