There Once Was an Island (2010)

Directed by: Briar March | 80 minutes | documentary

This has got to be the most idyllic spot on earth; Takuu, miles off the coast of Papua New Guinea. It is a tropical island with white beaches, blue sea, exotic crops and above all, the residents are self-reliant. The ultimate ingredients to dream away with. A small dot on the map, but a great example of paradise on earth. For as long as it lasts… Because Takuu is slowly being swallowed by the ocean, the result of the rising temperature on earth. It must not have taken the makers of ‘There Once Was an Island: Te Henua e Nhoho’ much effort to put down a visually appealing production. Such a beautiful decor as Takuu does not present itself every day. The fabulous title, which unfortunately contains a bitter message, therefore already suggests a lot.

Filmmakers Briar March and Lyn Collie worked for years on the documentary about the small island. They received (financial) support from numerous individuals and organizations who wanted to jointly denounce the problem of climate change. The idea for the documentary came about when one of the two filmmakers read an article by an anthropologist who had worked on Takkuu year after year. He had observed strange changes, such as coastal erosion and salty gardens.

March and Collie were given permission to shoot a documentary on the island. The local residents, including the ‘chief’, showed them around their community. The residents of Takuu live from their own fishing and horticulture. The documentary offers an impressive look at daily ins and outs. But above all, it tells of the fear that reigns now that their island is in danger of drowning.

‘There Once Was an Island’ is a cuddly illustration of a problem that everyone is familiar with by now, climate change. But through the eyes of an intriguingly self-reliant people in the distant ocean, the message hits hard. The makers cleverly combined the unavoidable respect and sympathy that the viewer will receive for these people with world problems. Mandatory cost.