Review of Hawaii

Hawaii (1966)
6/10
Reflective film of how different cultures and worlds collide
20 March 2020
The film's cinematography is exceptional and this film depicts the obvious and expected clash between a New England missionary Reverend Abner Hale (Max von Sydow) who takes his new bride Jerusha (Julie Andrews) to the exotic island of Hawaii in the year of 1818, in an effort to convert the natives. The film reflects how different the two cultures are and how rigid Reverend Abner Hale is in both his religious and culture beliefs whereas the native Hawaiians are at least open to understanding the very different culture that the Reverend Abner Hale and his wife Jerusha have introduced to their every day lives.

The year 1818 was a century and period with many hardships for all mankind and the Reverend Abner Hale believes that he alone is the answer to the savages of the island of Hawaii to bring them into the advances made in the 19th century by first building a church and home for his own growing family.

Julie Andrews who plays the Reverend's wife is expected to bear him children, teach the natives the good book and the way of the Americans, whilst she struggles with letting go of a young and virile love (Richard Harris) who broke her young heart before she was formally introduced to the Reverend Hale by her father.

It is an enlightening yet troublesome film which depicts the hardships of both cultures in the early part of the 1800's , and the evolution of love over the life span of the Reverend Hale and his wife Jerusha.

I give it a 6 out of 10 rating
5 out of 6 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink

Recently Viewed