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Rapa Nui (1994)
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Overview
User Rating:
Release Date:
9 September 1994 (USA) morePlot:
Tenuously based on the legends of Easter Island, Chile, this story details a civil war between the two... more | full synopsisAwards:
1 win moreNewsDesk:
In the meadow, we can pan a snowman(From Roger Ebert's Blog. 24 December 2008, 9:04 AM, PST)
User Comments:
An overlooked gem of a film moreCast
(Cast overview, first billed only)| Jason Scott Lee | ... | Noro | |
| Esai Morales | ... | Make | |
| Sandrine Holt | ... | Ramana | |
| Eru Potaka-Dewes | ... | Ariki-mau | |
| Emilio Tuki Hito | ... | Messenger | |
| Gordon Hatfield | ... | Riro | |
| Frenxa Reuben | ... | Heke | |
| Hori Ahipene | ... | Overseer | |
| Chiefy Elkington | ... | Fisherman | |
| Ruihana Rewa | ... | Old Woman | |
| George Henare | ... | Tupa | |
| Rawiri Paratene | ... | Priest | |
| Pete Smith | ... | Priest | |
| Mario Gaia | ... | Short Ears | |
| Cliff Curtis | ... | Short Ears |
Additional Details
Parents Guide:
Add content advisory for parentsRuntime:
107 minCountry:
USALanguage:
EnglishColor:
Color (Technicolor)Aspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1 moreSound Mix:
Dolby DigitalFilming Locations:
Easter Island, ChileFun Stuff
Goofs:
Anachronisms: The Rapa Nui had long abandoned carving moai by the time of the Cult of the Birdman. moreFAQ
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Rapa Nui is more than just a bunch of Polynesian (and Hispanic!) actors running around half-nekkid. It's an allegory about the dangers of theocratic government, and a tale of class struggle. Rapa Nui is the Polynesian name for Easter Island, that famous dot in the Pacific Ocean with the mysterious statues. We get to see how these things were carved - and why. The Long Ear tribe has effectively subjugated the Short Ear tribe, forcing them to carve Moai (statues) in order to placate the gods. Director Kevin Reynolds uses the island and the carving of statues as an effective backdrop to illustrate the enmity between the tribes, as well as a power struggle for eventual spremacy of the island. The film is driven by visuals and ideas. The writing hardly ever rises above so-so, and it's jarring to hear Polynesian-looking people with British, American and Latino accents. But the film has a certain power to fascinate, and for that alone I recommend it highly.