Navigating conflicts and compassion: Nauru launches its first movie
- Admin
- 10 hours ago
- 2 min read
By Pacific Island Times News Staff
Nauru’s first short feature film, "Far End of the Sea," which premiered on May 15, has officially launched on YouTube.
A film by Pleasant Island Productions, "Far End of the Sea" is a heartwarming drama that navigates conflicts, love and compassion. It follows the unlikely bond that develops overnight between two strangers from different backgrounds who speak different languages.
Shot across seven locations in Nauru, the film takes the viewer to an idyllic paradise with crystal-blue waters, white sand and lush green forests, forming what the British sea captain John Fearn called "Pleasant Island" in 1798.
While the movie is a work of fiction set in the 1800s, it is grounded in historical context and offers a snippet of Nauru's culture and friendliness.
"Far End of the Sea" tells the story of Scottish sailor Hamish MacKay, who is shipwrecked on the island and held captive by Adiben, an islander who is banished from his tribe for his "strange" behavior after losing his wife. Adiben initially sees Hamish as the key to getting back into the village, but empathy sets in. In the end, they discover they have a lot in common despite language and cultural barriers.
Melbourne-based actor Jamie Coffa plays Hamish. His previous credits include "The Legend of Ben Hall" and the TV miniseries "Gallipoli." Nauruan actor Cramer Cain plays Adiben. Supporting roles are played by Australia’s Sophie McAsey and local acting debutants Redrose Tamakin and Brav Dowabobo.
Coffa, who produced the film alongside Cain and Nauruan Yannick Detsiogo, said he wrote the script after spending his formative years growing up in Nauru.
“Nauru is a very special place to me and it’s been a long-time dream of mine to create a project that celebrates Nauruan language, culture and history. I wanted to do something for a place that gave me so much growing up," Coffa said.
View "Far End of the Sea" here.
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Nauru’s President David Ageang said the production was a proud moment for the tiny island nation.
“Many people in the world don’t know much about our country’s culture or history, and while this is a fictional story, the brotherhood, compassion and national pride at the core of the story are an accurate portrayal of our people,” he said.
The president said he hoped the film would inspire other smaller nations, as “few would expect a film of this quality and depth to be made here.”
“Our size and status will not stop us from achieving our goals, and all involved with the production and all Nauruans can rightly feel proud of this significant achievement.”
Nauru is the third-smallest country in the world, with a population of about 10,800.
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