Last of the Pagans

I recently had the opportunity of viewing this film. It is in black and white and was made quite some time back, but is well worth seeing.

Concerning French Polynesia, much of the dialogue is non-English, and the translations are a bit scarce; but not needed much--the actions of the characters and what happens to them tells the story quite adequately.

The native men from one island go to another island to steal wives for themselves. The main male character, Taro, kidnaps a woman he especially fancies. She is very unhappy about this--and I fully expected him to drag her back to his island and immediately start raping her, but that is not how it happens. Instead, once he gets there, he courts her-and she begins to become quite taken with his charms.

However, there are white men looking for labor for their mines, and the chief in Taro's village is also taken with the woman Taro wants. You can be sure these things come to plenty of troubles for both Taro and his intended.

This film was quite different from any I have ever seen before. It was excellently done and well told and I would certainly recommend it.