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Two Men of Fiji (1959)

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clip Traditions and customs

This clip chosen to be G

Clip description

To give a feast for the visiting Commissioner, the villagers use vines to catch thousands of fish. It is a community effort, with each villager given a role. They make a big circle around part of the lagoon and tie vines together which stretch over a mile. As the soundtrack swells with a cappella voices, the villagers encircle the fish. The catch is brought ashore and spread out.

The ceremony for welcoming guests begins with the giving of token gifts. The Commissioner sits in a chair watching the ceremony while the narrator of the film (Ravuama Vunivalu) sits beside him. Vunivalu explains in voice-over how he likes to see his people take pride in their customs.

Curator’s notes

by Poppy De Souza

The position of Ravuama Vunivalu within his village community is unclear. He is not the village chief, yet he is shown in this clip sitting beside the Commissioner. It is the only moment in the documentary where the narrator is shown on screen.

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