Unmasked by a Kanaka

director: Gaston Méliès

original title: Unmasked by a Kanaka

country: French Polynesia, United States

year: 1912

running time: 7 min.

synopsis

This is the last of the three surviving Tahitian films. This dramatic love story between a Tahitian and an American was distributed in the United States and Europe. Although the plot is trivial, it is exceptional in that the director did not cast a positive white male in the main role but, like his other films, has the Tahitians played by the locals, going against the conventions of the American film industry. Méliès consistently promoted these films as exclusive Tahitian productions, and his son strove to ensure wide distribution in the United States and Europe.

biography

Gaston Méliès (1852-1915), the brother of the more famous Georges, was primarily his sales representative in the United States. However, he has been directing films himself since 1903. He was first celebrated by American audiences. In the years 1912-13 he traveled the world and shot documentary films with staged scenes in exotic environments.

more about film

director:

Gaston Méliès

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