The Orator

The Orator is a 2011 Samoan and New Zealand film written and directed by Tusi Tamasese. It is the first ever Samoan feature film, "entirely shot in Samoa, in the Samoan language, with a Samoan cast and story". The film was selected as the New Zealand entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 84th Academy Awards, but it did not make the final shortlist. It is the first time New Zealand has submitted a film in this category. Plot Manu Asafo has described the film as an attempt "to portray Samoan culture". It shows Samoans "surrounded by family and support", in accordance with fa'aSamoa (the "Samoan way"). The New Zealand Film Commission describes it as showcasing not only "Samoan tradition and values", but also "universal" themes: "love, courage, personal adversity and honour". Samoan Deputy Prime Minister Misa Telefoni has described it as "a beautiful and poignant love story" which brings "the finest aspects of traditions of our Samoan culture into the international spotlight". The main character, Saili, a "simple villager", a taro farmer and a dwarf or of short stature, must "find the strength" to "defend his land and family, which are threatened by powerful adversaries". Saili is excluded from the village community because his physical appearance does not fit the expectations for a leader in Samoa. This disadvantage and his lack of rhetorical skills and oratory training make it challenging for him to argue for his right to the graves of his parents and the right to bury his wife. "He ultimately attempts to reclaim his father's chiefly status, even if the current ageing village chief does not believe he has the physique or the oratory skill required." At the end, Saili must make a ceremonial oration after the tragedy of the death of his wife, who was estranged from her own village, but her relatives wished her to be buried there. He succeeds in retrieving the body, which was stolen from him after her death.