Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision brings Moana with Sound to Aucklan

23 April 2018

Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision brings Moana with Sound to Auckland

Director, Robert Flaherty beside a camera, talks to three of the leading cast members – Tu'ugaita (of the Pa'ia'aua family in Matavai village), Fa’agase (from Lefagaoali’I Village) and young Pe’a (from Faletagaloa Village). Location: Safune, Savai'i, Samoa.
Stills Collection, Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision. Courtesy of Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision.

Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision, in partnership with Tautai Contemporary Pacific Arts Trust, has announced that it is bringing the exceptional and historically important 1926 film Moana with Sound to the Māngere Arts Centre, Auckland in May.

Ngā Taonga Chief Executive, Rebecca Elvy said, "Moana was the first film to ever be described as a documentary, though more accurately it is a docu-drama. It was filmed in the village district of Safune on the Samoan island of Savai’i after Paramount Pictures sent director Robert J. Flaherty to capture the traditional life of the Polynesians, so it's an extraordinary opportunity to see again the Samoa of the 1920s.

"In 1975 Flaherty’s daughter, Monica, returned to Safune to create a soundtrack for the film and after five years of work, in 1980, Moana with Sound was released. In 2014 independent film archivist, Bruce Posner completed a 2K digital restoration of the film with the sound digitally restored by Posner and Sami Van Ingen. It's this restored film that we are thrilled to be bringing to Auckland," Ms Elvy said.

Ngā Taonga Group Manager for Outreach and Engagement, Jackie Hay said, "This is a follow-up to a very successful Moana with Sound screening and symposium which we held with the Stout Research Centre in Wellington in 2016. We are delighted to now be able offer Aucklanders the opportunity to see and discuss this wonderful film."

Ngā Taonga will be holding two seconday school educational screenings, each with Q&A, on Friday, 4 May at 10.30am and 1pm and then a free public screening at 3pmon Saturday, 5 May followed by a panel discussion.

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