Rurutu, Terre de Umuai
Directed by Virginie Tetoofa (French Polynesia, 2018)
Film still. Rurutu, Terre de Umuai. Directed by Virginie Tetoofa (French Polynesia, 2018)
Free, booking essential
This film is unclassified
Duration: 60 minutes
French with English subtitles
On Rurutu, one of the remote Austral Islands 570km south of Tahiti, a community of 2500 inhabitants are known in French Polynesia for their lively traditions and big weddings.
Far from the more popular tourist venues like Bora Bora and Moorea, Rurutu is unlike any other island in the Austral Islands, an archipelago of seven islands in total, of which five are inhabited.
Since the beginning of the 20th century, in Avera, the great festival of the year is the umuai, the organisation of group weddings that can bring together up to 17 couples. It is an essential part of the identity of this island.
This documentary follows the umuai festival over several days where everything from gifts, food drink and dancing is offered in abundance during these festivities.
Rurutu, Terre de Umuai is presented in partnership with Festival International du Film Documentare Oceanien (FIFO), Tahiti's prestigious International Oceanian Documentary Film Festival, where it screened in 2020.
Gauguin’s World: Tōna Iho, Tōna Ao is on at the National Gallery from 29 June – 7 October 2024.
about the filmmaker
Virginie Tetoofa, Director, Rurutu Virginie Tetoofa
Virginie Tetoofa is a director, producer, editor and cinematographer and founder of the audiovisual production company AHI COMPANY.
Virginie’s films celebrate Polynesian culture as a living culture in constant evolution. She has directed many films in French Polynesia, including E Arioi Vahine which had its world premiere at the prestigious Palm Springs Film Festival and won the award for best editing at Flickerfest in Sydney. She also directed the TV series Pari Pari Fenua, which was broadcast on Polynesie La 1ère.
about fifo
Festival International du Film Documentare Oceanien (FIFO)
Created in 2004, the Festival International du Film Documentare Oceanien, known as FIFO, aims to promote the voice of the peoples and cultures by bringing Oceanian cinema and filmmakers to screens around the world.
FIFO has become an unmissable event in French Polynesia. More than a cultural event, FIFO is also a pillar in the development of the audiovisual industry in Oceania. An essential professional meeting in the South Pacific, the festival offers unique opportunities for dialogues and creativity to germinate. It allows directors and producers, technicians and TV channels, representatives of foreign festivals and distributors to connect over Oceanian cinema.
