Flying Fox in a Freedom Tree

On the Samoan island of Sapepe, the rebellious, pranksterish young Pepe (Faifua Amiga) rejects his imported Christianity and declares himself a descendant of the old gods, setting himself on a path of alienation and conflict. In this excerpt, he leads a burglary of his father's store and burns down a church on the streets of Apia. Adapted from two works by Albert Wendt and shot with a local and largely amateur crew, Martyn Sanderson's first feature is emboldened by vivid cinematography and Kingpin-star Amiga's unforced charisma in the lead role.

At the heart of it is a terrific performance from Faifua Amiga. His Pepe is a soul in torment, at war with himself and with the alienating cultural ideals of the colonising Palagi.

– Costa Botes, reviewing Flying Fox in a 1990 issue of Onfilm

Key Cast & Crew

Faifua Amiga

As: Pepe

Martyn Sanderson

Director, Actor, Writer

Grahame McLean

Producer

Peseta Sinave Isara

As: Tauilopepe

Fuialo Molimau

As: Toasa

Richard Von Sturmer

As: Tagata