THE MAKING OF THE FILM THE LAND HAS EYES

The Land Has Eyes is a full‐length feature film set on the Polynesian island of Rotuma in the South Pacific. The film was written and directed by Vilsoni Hereniko, who was born and raised on the island, and coproduced by his wife, Jeannette Paulson Hereniko. It is the first film to be nominated for an academy award by the Republic of Fiji. This paper documents the issues involved in making the film, including the logistic and cultural problems confronting the couple before, during, and after production. Responses to the film by Rotuman and nonRotuman audiences, and by critics, are presented. A number of issues associated with indigenous filmmaking are also discussed .