Rapa Nui (1994)

September 20, 2024 7:55 PM

On the isolated land of Rapa Nui (Easter Island), the Long Ears rule over the Short Ears, who are forced to build Moai to gain blessings from the gods. Every year the Birdman competition determines the ruler for the year. Noro (Jason Scott Lee) competes to keep his grandfather in power and win the hand of Ramana (Sandrine Holt). His childhood friend Make (Esai Morales) competes to break the oppression of the Short Ears. The land is denuded for the construction of the largest Moai ever, the Birdman competitors race down cliffs and through shark-infested waters to fetch the first eggs, and the gods are looked to for salvation.

This is a fantasy movie set in a world where the Birdman cult and Moai construction exist simultaneously and the natives believe all other land has been inundated (director Kevin Reynolds and producer Kevin Costner would go on to make Waterworld after this movie). A doddering old man is in charge with an evil Vizer by his side. A beautiful young woman is the subject of competition by two handsome young friends-turned-rivals. A reluctant mentor trains the young hero. The world they all live in is sacrificed to gain favour with the gods. Deus Ex Machina brings about the collapse of society.

Shot on location in Easter Island, the movie was not a box office success, grossing $300,000 on a $20,000,000 budget. All the characters are dressed in loinclothes, meaning bare chests and buttocks throughout. The level of violence ramps up once the Birdman race begins, earning the R rating.

posted by WhackyparseThis (8 comments total)

My late father and I watched this late at night on cable back in the 90s. It's a compelling watch. When he was on Hospice in 2015, he said to me, "Rapa Nui! It's the White Canoe!" He passed away three days later.
posted by KingEdRa at 8:03 PM on September 20 [9 favorites]

A recent front page post kinda made it seem like Jared Diamond invented the idea of ecocide on Easter Island, but this movie lays out the concept 10 years before Collapse was published. I find it very entertaining, it manages to tell a story about natives without having a colonial as a viewpoint character, and I recognise most of the actors from New Zealand films. Rena Owen! Zac Wallace! Rawiri Paratene! George Henare! Pete Smith! Lawrence Makoare! and many more. The history is all wrong, so I think it's best to approach it as a fantasy time like King Arthur.

I don't see it listed as streaming anywhere, so you may have to sail the high seas to watch it.
posted by WhackyparseThis at 8:31 PM on September 20 [2 favorites]

I don't see it listed as streaming anywhere, so you may have to sail the high seas to watch it.

*adjusts eyepatch*
posted by Literaryhero at 2:11 AM on September 21 [1 favorite]

Rapa Nui is a well told tale. Underrated imho. When it came out, I saw it in an empty theatre where it ran for only one week.

Interesting review from Roger Ebert.
posted by fairmettle at 9:50 PM on September 21 [1 favorite]

When I visited Rapa Nui, this was being shown at the one movie theater in Hanga Roa nightly, which made me chuckle. Like, don't the locals wanna see Ghostbusters or Titanic or something? Having been there and read some non-Jared Diamond histories of the place, I know the movie is mostly nonsense but then so is a Knight's Tale and I've seen that repeatedly. If nothing else, just mute the dialog and enjoy the location shots.
posted by lefty lucky cat at 8:54 PM on September 22 [3 favorites]

My library says it's available for streaming on Hoopla.
posted by BobtheThief at 4:51 PM on September 23 [3 favorites]

I was somewhat in love with Rena Owen in the 90s and met her after a screening at the Frameline festival (I forget what indie queer film I saw her in there).. This was pre-google and I asked what else I could see her in and she mentioned Rapa Nui with some eye rolling. But perhaps now is the time for me to watch!
posted by latkes at 10:59 AM on September 24 [1 favorite]

Yep. Free on Hoopla. Also available for digital rental on multiple outlets. JustWatch listing.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 8:09 AM on September 25