INTERVIEW: THE ORATOR (O Le Tulafale) – Tusi Tamasese
By Stephen Carnell
Cast: Fa’afiaula Sagote (Saili), Tausili Pushparaj (Vaaiga), Salamasina Mataia (Litia), Ioata Tanielu (Poto).
Synopsis: THE ORATOR (O Le Tulafale) is a contemporary drama about courage, forgiveness and love in an isolated culture. 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 and keep his family together.
Interview:
SC: The cinematography of Leon Narbey in THE ORATOR was very beautiful, so sharp, with fine detail and intense colour. This was apparent from the opening sequence, showing the steep mist clad mountains, the fields and plants and the heavy rain. Why did you choose this particular opening and this visual style?
TT: The weather is a character in Samoa. This was a different opening scene to the script, but the scripted scene wasn’t working, so I changed it. Now the opening scene introduces the world of Samoa, the intensity of the weather, the visual beauty and the tempo of the rain. The physical nature of the place acts as a metaphor for the volatility of the emotions that lie beneath the surface of the characters in the film.
SC: The feeling that I took away from this film was of a community and culture that lived today very much amongst its past and its dead. The film depicts Samoan tribal traditions, the rite of oratory and, most of all, the tradition of living amongst the graves of one’s family. The need and the right to be close to one’s dead family is the driver of this story. Why did you choose this subject?
TT: The most important element in Samoan life is the land and the burial places of ancestors. For Samoans the most important bond in life and death is between you, your parents and your ancestors. Today, the traditions are still strong, but people are beginning to sell their land – so it’s difficult to predict what the future may bring.
SC: Your casting was excellent, but I assume trained actors are scarce in Samoa. How did you recruit and select your actors?
TT: I decided to direct the film myself, and I made a choice to use untrained actors who could deliver the subtlety of a local character. I’m particularly proud of the performance of Ioata Tanielu as Vaaiga’s brother Poto. The actor worked with me to develop a strong and complex character that ultimately enables the protagonist, Saili, to overcome a major obstacle and redeem himself with his family and community through his successful oratory. I wanted to cast the character of Saili, who is Samoan and a dwarf, with a known Samoan performer, but that didn’t work out. So I held a casting call and very fortunately found Fa’afiaula Sagote.
SC: Yes, your central character, Saili, is played superbly by Fa’afiaula Sagote. Why did you choose to depict your main character as a physical and spiritual outcast?
TT: Because this made his journey to maintain tradition even more difficult. Fa’afiaula Sagote played this role perfectly; in fact, he has been nominated as Best Actor in the 2011 Asia Pacific Screen Awards.
