The Orator (O Le Tulafale) is a contemporary drama about courage, forgiveness and love. Small in stature and humble, Saili lives a simple life with his beloved wife and daughter in an isolated, traditional village in the islands of Samoa. Forced to protect his land and family, Saili must face his fears and seek the right to speak up for those he loves.
演说家
Italy Italy 
первый полнометражный самоанский фильм особенно прогрессивен своей душой и построением длительных кадров, но слишком тяжелый для просмотра — монотонный, немногословный, рассказывает о совсем другом народе.
Фильм — о душевных страданиях главных героев. вроде бы они хотят разрешить все свои внутренние (и не только) конфликты, но ничего для этого не делают. для меня это не есть хорошо, но если цель просмотра – ознакомиться с новой культурой, то фильм стоит внимания.
I believe this film better captures the atmosphere and culture of its setting than any other film I've seen this month. This is based entirely on assumption, as I know nothing of Samoan culture, and the fact that the director is a Samoan-New Zealander suggests that there might be some disconnect--then again, diasporans often cherish their cultures strongly. This film is about a facet of Samoan culture, and it addresses it with a combination of understanding and progressiveness. It wants to suggest a way forward that allows the traditions to thrive, but also allows for change.
Set in a remote part of the nation, the film is surrounded by dense forest, a green wall that emphasizes isolation even as symbols…
"We played with the Three D's Strategy: Discipline and Defence."
"You forgot the third D."
"Dackle! Dackle them so hard they do a 'hmmm' in their pants!"
It doesn't quite have the same ring in print, but with a twangy Samoan accent full of pop and bluster, this line from the local rugby coach was pure gold. It's funny how sometimes a simple story can come to life with the addition of local dialect and a smattering of cultural nuance.
Samoan born Tusi Tamasese released this, the country's first feature length film O Le Tulafale in 2011 with assistance from the New Zealand film commission, which was subsequently submitted to the academy for consideration in the 2011 Oscars.
A fascinating…
if anything i think this film really goes to show how important cinematography can be for making a great film. i paid more attention that i usually do to the shots in this, and i can safely say there's not a single shot in this film that isn't beautifully done, it's all such a treat to look at and far more refreshing than most grey and drab films coming out these days
i'd say that the great shots carry it (and they sorta do in a technical sense) but that would imply that the other aspects aren't good as well, and i think that they are for the most part. it does get a little dull at some points but…
Pretty impressive film production-wise, and I found it had a good bit to say, telling a intricate story of family and self. It just lacked a lot for me, and that's partially my own fault—this slow, methodical style of storytelling rarely keeps me interested—but there wasn't much for me to latch onto. I kind of just observed stuff happening, and didn't find myself connecting much to any of it. The acting and dialogue struggled at times too, and was clearly amateur in a lot of ways. This had the potential to be a lot better for me, but it just fell flat in a lot of the areas of filmmaking I find myself drawn to.
The film is my image of what I see of growing up in Samoa. Some people might say no, because different people have their own perspective and I am a little bit worried about that... It's a bit like a tour, You get thrown into this place and you are seeing things. I know it's a fine line between creating confusion and curiosity but I wanted that feel. I didn't want to explain things. I wanted people to just try and appreciate.
- Director Tusi Tamasese, 2011
The Orator is both the directorial debut of Tamasese and the first Samoan feature film. But nothing about this is amateurish. Every element has intention. It's been a while since I've thought a…
Pretty much new territory for me culture-wise, so I was fascinated to see how this one goes. And for the most part, it maintains itself as a searching for the light of the tunnel type drama where you want to see the main character actually succeed. Though it didn't really make it 100% engaging, in fact it felt rather pretty slow to the point where my focus waned while watching it throughout. The climax, where he delivers a poignant speech, and the surprisingly effective cinematography however made it decently worth it, so it wasn't a total loss.
A flawed, yet solid drama and a good recommendation for anyone in the mood for a more unique taste of foreign cinema.
(edit 07/23/24: The more I think about it, the more I'm bored of it, so the rating has made a slight drop.)
I have to be honest, I think I watched this terribly. I was too distracted for so many parts of it, so I kinda failed in actually watching this. I'll still give it a score, but I'm very sorry.
Now for the movie, I think it's okay. It has a lot of merit as it's the first Samoan feature film ever, and it did feel incredibly authentic in showing its culture. There were also some nice camera shots here and there. But I don't know, it didn't hold me long enough, story events felt scattered, it felt like a chore at times to watch. Don't trust this review for setting expectations; I paid way less attention than I should have.…
“I will bury her in the space between my heart and my lungs. The worms will never find her, nor the birds. She will be safe and at peace in here with my soul”
This is my first time watching a Samoan film. Holy shit! The cinematography is so good. It highlights the beauty of tropical naturalism, its lush greenery and soft sunlights made me fell in love with it.
It’s not for all, but I enjoyed viewing it. I am sitting here and watching as if life unfold without being told how to feel. No dramatic scores or big monologues, just small pacing and moments. You’re not meant to fully understand, but rather witness it
Unfortunately, I was not very invested in this movie except for the last 20 minutes or so where it all built up to a good speech from the main character that does make me want to give it another chance some day. I didn't really vibe with the slow pace nature of this film compared to other slow movies I watched where I felt more engaged in following the characters and the story throughout even though the runtime is only 105 minutes. The movie has some nice cinematography despite the 360p quality I watched it in and has a good score that complements the scenes it's used in nicely. I do hope a boutique label like Criterion or Arrow can…
Most Popular Film Around The World Challenge #3: Samoa
The Orator is shockingly the first film entirely shot in Samoa, in the Samoan language, with a Samoan cast and story. The courageousness and bravery of Saili feels universal, even if the viewer is unsure of the specifics of the cultural customs being navigated and what’s here feels very human. There are some pacing issues and slow bits in the narrative, but the reflection ultimately is a strength and the way it portrayed Samoan culture is beautiful, even if Saili is navigating a difficult trial.
“... cleverly manages to criticise Samoan culture at the same time as celebrating it — a culture that can deal with disputes by formal public speechmaking or by rocks and machetes but not much in between. For New Zealand audiences: not to be missed. For international audiences: not to be missed.”
