Tanna

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2:20

Tanna

Released Sep 16, 2016

1h 44m

Romance

Drama

Adventure

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

93%

Tomatometer

40 Reviews

77%

Popcornmeter

500+ Ratings

After a young woman runs away with the man she loves to avoid an arranged marriage, villagers wrestle with preserving their traditional culture or adapting it to the increasing outside demands for individual freedom.

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Critics Consensus

Powerful visuals, naturalistic performances, and economic filmmaking combine to bring added resonance to Tanna's impactful story and fresh cultural perspective.

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Richard Kuipers

Variety

Elegantly edited by Tania Michel Nehme and performed with conviction by actors who’d never seen a film or a movie camera before, the pic is a stirring tribute to the power of love.

Feb 11, 2025

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Brad Wheeler

Globe and Mail

The film uses its 100 minutes smartly. Emotional notes are hit neatly and refreshingly.

Jun 2, 2017

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Peter Howell

Toronto Star

Aussie co-directors Martin Butler and Bentley Dean prize authenticity over conventional drama.

Rated: 3/4

Jun 1, 2017

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Glenn Dunks

Glenn Dunks

...a truly one-of-a-kind cinematic experience that thrills both as a marvel of filmmaking, and as a document of a world that, to many of us, would appear to be a land before time, safeguarded from the destructive arrival of the white man.

Rated: A-

Jul 19, 2021

Full Review

Leigh Monson

Substream Magazine

In translating this story to a cinematic experience, Butler and Dean have shared a bit of the Yakel people with the world in a new and innovative way, and the importance of such a cultural artifact cannot be understated.

Rated: 3.5/5

Sep 24, 2020

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Michael J. Casey

Boulder Weekly

The Yakels allowed Dean considerable access into their lives and stories, all of which color Tanna's impressive results.

Aug 6, 2019

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Shuai L

Love it! Skillfully blended truth-telling with story-making!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/25/25

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Audience Member

This comes across as a pretty authentic story and snapshot of Vanuata tribal life. I was surprised to find that the “based on a true story” claim is more justified here than in most movies. Perhaps most importantly, the movie does an excellent job of showing how a traditional tribe is still constantly changing and evolving, just as more “developed” societies are.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

05/28/22

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Audience Member

A beautiful movie with an unforgettable setting and cast. Highly recommended!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/29/23

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Audience Member

By the end, viewers will notice a resemblance in this story to a famous work of a great writer. Fascinatingly, Tanna's story is based on a true one and the events helped to bring about changes in the law and custom of the Yakel people, who are the subject of the film. The landscapes are lush and dramatic and the acting is unforced.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/14/23

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Tim G

A familiar story but everything else - the actors, the setting, the authenticity, etc - is unique.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

09/18/20

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Audience Member

Absolutely beautiful. Must see.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/23/23

Full Review

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Bentley Dean

Director

Martin Butler

Director

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Wawa

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Tanna: Trailer 2

2:20

Tanna: Trailer 1

2:07

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Synopsis

After a young woman runs away with the man she loves to avoid an arranged marriage, villagers wrestle with preserving their traditional culture or adapting it to the increasing outside demands for individual freedom.

Director: Bentley Dean, Martin Butler
Producer: Martin Butler, Bentley Dean, Carolyn Johnson
Screenwriter: Bentley Dean, Martin Butler, John Collee
Distributor: Lightyear
Production Co: Contact Films
Genre: Romance, Drama, Adventure
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 16, 2016, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 7, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA): $5.7K
Runtime: 1h 44m
Sound Mix: Dolby Digital

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