A Word to the Wise

Filmmaker J. Esgleas Marroi’s documentary about the mostly uninhabited archipelago known as the Solomon Islands offers an impressionistic look at both the idyllic and the frightening aspects of this South Pacific nation that lies northeast of Australia. Eschewing thousands of years of history—including British colonization and the role the islands played during World War II—A Word to the Wise largely consists of shots of the sky, ocean, domestic life, and children playing. In a low-key, sporadic monologue, Solomon Islands elder Douglas Lui Fo’oa shares his thoughts about living with nature, and about the multitude of tribes (some of them cannibals) spread throughout the islands. Also seen here is footage of clear-cutting forests, a regrettable commercial travesty that Fo’oa calls an attack on "Mother." While the film ultimately leaves viewers with a warm feeling, its larger purpose is somewhat unclear. A strong optional purchase. Aud: C, P. (T. Keogh)