Flying Fox in a Freedom Tree

On the Samoan island of Sapepe, the rebellious, pranksterish young Pepe (Faifua Amiga) rejects his imported Christianity and declares himself a descendant of the old gods, setting himself on a path of alienation and conflict. In this excerpt, he leads a burglary of his father's store and burns down a church on the streets of Apia. Adapted from two works by Albert Wendt and shot with a local and largely amateur crew, Martyn Sanderson's first feature is emboldened by vivid cinematography and Kingpin-star Amiga's unforced charisma in the lead role.

First time director Sanderson scrums into the hefty themes with gusto ... the film has a passion and vigour that live in the mind long after you've seen it.

– Rachel Lang in Onfilm, 1990

Key Cast & Crew

Grahame McLean

Producer

Martyn Sanderson

Director, Actor, Writer

Faifua Amiga

As: Pepe

Peseta Sinave Isara

As: Tauilopepe

Fuialo Molimau

As: Toasa

Richard Von Sturmer

As: Tagata