Tabu : A Story Of The South Seas (1931) :
Brief Review -
A Suitable Classic End to the Legendary Filmography of Master F. W. Murnau. Tabu means Taboo (in English) and Murnau's tragic love tale set in South seas tried breaking a taboo set by other love saga which end typically either on happy note or sad one. The best explanation of this film in modern language is, it's a Romeo-Juliet tale with a haunting and taboo-breaking ending. On the South Pacific island of Bora Bora, a young couple's love is threatened when the tribal chief declares the girl a sacred virgin. The couple escapes and lives on some other Island far away from tribal community where they get exploited by western civilization. The film ends with an artistic expression but i am not sure whether everyone will understand the same meaning of it. Some might take it as a tragedy and some might find metaphorical touch related to the word 'Tabu'. I am going with the second theory because i liked it more and it was different from typical tragic end. Murnau's poetic and ornamental storytelling gives it a regional touch in which the entire tribal universe looks fascinating. He also trained natives to work in the film as crew members and actors to make it look more real. And all the actors in the film actually looked like living the characters as they didn't have to act professionally. Cinematography of Crosby won the deserving Oscar doll and one must notice how he shot those long shots on Seas and quick takes on shore. Unfortunately this was Murnau's last time and i feel very sad that we missed many classics he would have made later. But i am happy that even his last film suits the high standard of his legendary Filmography. Overall, Tabu is proper send off to the Master Director and even with his last he didn't fail to impress. He made a classy thing yet again and left so influences from this one too.
RATING - 8/10*
By - #samthebestest
A Suitable Classic End to the Legendary Filmography of Master F. W. Murnau. Tabu means Taboo (in English) and Murnau's tragic love tale set in South seas tried breaking a taboo set by other love saga which end typically either on happy note or sad one. The best explanation of this film in modern language is, it's a Romeo-Juliet tale with a haunting and taboo-breaking ending. On the South Pacific island of Bora Bora, a young couple's love is threatened when the tribal chief declares the girl a sacred virgin. The couple escapes and lives on some other Island far away from tribal community where they get exploited by western civilization. The film ends with an artistic expression but i am not sure whether everyone will understand the same meaning of it. Some might take it as a tragedy and some might find metaphorical touch related to the word 'Tabu'. I am going with the second theory because i liked it more and it was different from typical tragic end. Murnau's poetic and ornamental storytelling gives it a regional touch in which the entire tribal universe looks fascinating. He also trained natives to work in the film as crew members and actors to make it look more real. And all the actors in the film actually looked like living the characters as they didn't have to act professionally. Cinematography of Crosby won the deserving Oscar doll and one must notice how he shot those long shots on Seas and quick takes on shore. Unfortunately this was Murnau's last time and i feel very sad that we missed many classics he would have made later. But i am happy that even his last film suits the high standard of his legendary Filmography. Overall, Tabu is proper send off to the Master Director and even with his last he didn't fail to impress. He made a classy thing yet again and left so influences from this one too.
RATING - 8/10*
By - #samthebestest