28th Ji.hlava International Documentary Film Festival

25. 10.–3. 11. 2024
ČeštinaEnglish

Unmasked by a Kanaka

Gaston Méliès / French Polynesia, United States / 1912 / Czech Premiere / 7 min.


synopsis

This is the last of the three surviving Tahitian films. This dramatic love story between a Tahitian and an American was distributed in the United States and Europe. Although the plot is trivial, it is exceptional in that the director did not cast a positive white male in the main role but, like his other films, has the Tahitians played by the locals, going against the conventions of the American film industry. Méliès consistently promoted these films as exclusive Tahitian productions, and his son strove to ensure wide distribution in the United States and Europe.

biography

Gaston Méliès (1852-1915), the brother of the more famous Georges, was primarily his sales representative in the United States. However, he has been directing films himself since 1903. He was first celebrated by American audiences. In the years 1912-13 he traveled the world and shot documentary films with staged scenes in exotic environments.

more about film

director: Gaston Méliès

Film at festival

premiere type:Czech Premiere
festival edition:2023
section:The Méliès Brothers' Documentary Film
language:Silent
subtitles:No Subtitle

Info

director:Gaston Méliès
original title:Unmasked by a Kanaka
country:French Polynesia, United States
year:1912
running time:7 min.

Festival partners

Ministerstvo kultury
Fond kinematografie
Město Jihlava
Kraj Vysočina
Creative Europe Media
GEMO
Česká televize
Český rozhlas
Aktuálně.cz
Respekt
Dafilms

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