Tanna

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2:20

Tanna

2016

1h 43m

Kids & Family

Romance

Drama

Adventure

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

93%

Tomatometer

40 Reviews

77%

Popcornmeter

500+ Ratings

In one of the last traditional tribes in the world, a young girl falls in love with her chief's grandson. With their lives on the line, the star-crossed lovers must choose between their hearts and the peaceful future of the tribe.

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Critics Consensus

Powerful visuals, naturalistic performances, and economic filmmaking combine to bring added resonance to Tanna's impactful story and fresh cultural perspective.

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Richard Kuipers

Variety

Feb 11, 2025

Elegantly edited by Tania Michel Nehme and performed with conviction by actors who’d never seen a film or a movie camera before, the pic is a stirring tribute to the power of love.

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Brad Wheeler

Globe and Mail

Jun 2, 2017

The film uses its 100 minutes smartly. Emotional notes are hit neatly and refreshingly.

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Peter Howell

Toronto Star

Jun 1, 2017

3/4

Aussie co-directors Martin Butler and Bentley Dean prize authenticity over conventional drama.

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Glenn Dunks

Glenn Dunks

Jul 19, 2021

A-

...a truly one-of-a-kind cinematic experience that thrills both as a marvel of filmmaking, and as a document of a world that, to many of us, would appear to be a land before time, safeguarded from the destructive arrival of the white man.

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Leigh Monson

Substream Magazine

Sep 24, 2020

3.5/5

In translating this story to a cinematic experience, Butler and Dean have shared a bit of the Yakel people with the world in a new and innovative way, and the importance of such a cultural artifact cannot be understated.

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Michael J. Casey

Boulder Weekly

Aug 6, 2019

The Yakels allowed Dean considerable access into their lives and stories, all of which color Tanna's impressive results.

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Shuai L

@RT02569283 Jun 25, 2025

Love it! Skillfully blended truth-telling with story-making!

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May 28, 2022

This comes across as a pretty authentic story and snapshot of Vanuata tribal life. I was surprised to find that the “based on a true story” claim is more justified here than in most movies. Perhaps most importantly, the movie does an excellent job of showing how a traditional tribe is still constantly changing and evolving, just as more “developed” societies are.

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Jan 23, 2021

A beautiful movie with an unforgettable setting and cast. Highly recommended!

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Dec 29, 2020

By the end, viewers will notice a resemblance in this story to a famous work of a great writer. Fascinatingly, Tanna's story is based on a true one and the events helped to bring about changes in the law and custom of the Yakel people, who are the subject of the film. The landscapes are lush and dramatic and the acting is unforced.

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Tim G

@tmgreene22 Sep 18, 2020

A familiar story but everything else - the actors, the setting, the authenticity, etc - is unique.

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Jun 3, 2019

Absolutely beautiful. Must see.

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Bentley Dean

Director

Martin Butler

Director

Marie Wawa

Wawa

Mungau Dain

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Tanna: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

In one of the last traditional tribes in the world, a young girl falls in love with her chief's grandson. With their lives on the line, the star-crossed lovers must choose between their hearts and the peaceful future of the tribe.

Director: Bentley Dean, Martin Butler
Producer: Carolyn Johnson
Screenwriter: John Collee
Distributor: Lightyear
Production Co: Contact Films
Genre: Kids & Family, Romance, Drama, Adventure
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 16, 2016, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 7, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA): $5.7K
Runtime: 1h 43m
Sound Mix: Dolby Digital

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