FIJI’S first short film, “Two Men of Fiji” was screened at the famous Phoenix Theatre along Rodwell Rd in Suva in 1959.
On April 21, 1959, The Fiji Times reported the film being one of the first to show Fiji in its natural element.
The Australian television documentary was directed by Brett Porter for the Shell Film Unit.
It was filmed in Fiji over a two-month period and was screened theatrically in Fiji.
It was later presented at the Sydney and Melbourne film festivals and also at the Venice, Edinburgh and possibly Berlin festivals.
The producer of the film unit, Bern Gandy, told The Fiji Times about the 10 million viewers who viewed it after it was presented on television to British television audience.
“Our plan was to make a film in one of the neighbouring countries and New Guinea, Indonesia and the Pacific Islands were considered,” he said.
“The Fijian players displayed an extremely natural acting ability. We got 100 per cent co-operation from the Government and people of Fiji.
“The setting of the film took place from Lakeba to Viti Levu and the action moves from the peaceful life of a remote village to the complicated life of Suva, where everything has to be paid for,” reported this newspaper.
“There are glimpses of the Central Medical School (now College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences) of the 1957 Hibiscus Festival, and some entrancing shots of mountain and coastal scenery.”
The story is centred around two young men of Lakeba, played with charm and simplicity by Jaile Ataogo and Adriu Kobale.
The first travels to Suva to become a medical student and the second follows him to see what the bright lights were really like.
“There is a good deal of truth in the restrained development of the ‘drift to the town’ theme in simple terms.
“The dialogue is in Fijian language, with neat English translation by a Fijian commentator, Ravuama Vunivalu,” describes The Fiji Times.
