Rapa Nui

Fifteen hundred years ago a small band

of Polynesian voyagers discovered

...one of the most remote

islands on earth.

And began a mystery

that still endures.

The band and their chief,

Hotu Matu'a,

Settled the lush oasis, and were

lost to the world for the next 1,000 years.

European sailors rediscovered the

island and named it Easter Island.

The Europeans found a barren,

treeless place,

Inhabited by numerous warring clans

And the gigantic stone statues

built over centuries

As a form of ancestor worship.

Hotu Matu'a's descendants called the island

Navel of the World, Rapa Nui.

And centuries of isolation

had convinced them

They were the only people

left on earth.

Still, no one knows why the

statues were so large,

Or why work on them suddenly ceased.

But legend speaks of a terrible

conflict between the clans

A few decades before the Europeans

Noro!

Noro

The Ariki-mau wants to see you.

Well?

- It's hard to say.

- The truth.

I would if I could, but the signs

are neither good nor bad.

- We should look again later.

- I must know when, Tupa.

Try something else.

The smoke.

Yes, Ariki.

Matua tane.

Your cousin Epe, by

My wife Auareipua,

Has fallen while training for

the Birdman competition.

That's his body lying

Before the ahu.

You must take his place.

Me?

It's what the signs command,

According to Tupa.

But I'm not ready yet.

I Know. But there's no one else.

They're all gone,

dead, except you.

So, Noroinia,

The priests of the Miru clan

Invite you to compete for

the first egg.

The first egg at Orongo

When Hotu Matu'a

Sends his birds

In the spring.

Will you swim for me

The Ariki-mau

The reigning Birdman?

Yes.

Tell the other Long Ears

There's no use

Choosing swimmers,

Because Noro will win, making me

Birdman for the 20th year.

It's finished, Ariki-mau.

Will you give your approval?

No.

Build another.

Take the rest of the

day off, Heke.

Ariki.

May I ask,

How does this moai

displease the gods?

It's too small.

Take the ropes.

The ropes.

Bring it down.

Ramana?

Ramana?

Koreto, have you seen Ramana?

Look what I brought her.

You know where she is.

When the morning star

Is two hands above the horizon in

midsummer, that's due west.

They knew the currents far

out at sea?

They'd strip, jump into the water

and feel it with their

Balls.

My father is descended from

Hotu Matu'a's navigator.

He should know.

Why does no one else know?

It's not important to them.

They only think of the moai.

Marry me.

- They'd never allow it.

- Why not?

They won't allow it. Grandfather

must give me something if I compete.

Noro, I'm Short Ear.

I love you.

What about in a year?

When people talk?

They say I just want to be Long Ear.

They say I just want you for this.

Is that true?

I want you for my wife.

- Have you told Make?

- Not yet.

Get up, Short Ear.

- You have six moons.

- Priest, that's impossible!

The last moai took 6 moons.

And it wasn't half as big!

Stop work on all other moai.

But even then

Should I find

Another master carver?

It must be done before the

Birdman competition.

Why?

What was wrong with the last one?

You'll kill us!

How will we move it?

Old man.

Old man!

What is this?

This fish

Is taboo.

It's the Ariki-mau's fish until the next moon.

No one is allowed to

Catch it till then.

These rules are for everyone's benefit.

Aren't they?

Aren't they?

It was in the net with

the other fish.

It was drowned.

I was bringing it to the Ariki-mau.

We'd never eat taboo fish.

- Would kill us.

- Yes. We know that!

You broke a taboo.

Six moons!

What news?

You gave them the plan?

- Yes. They loved the idea.

- Wonderful.

Here's a good man.

They have plenty of food

and... whatever?

- They're all taken care of.

- Good.

The clouds are fast

For this time of year.

Odd.

Did I tell you? I lost three more

teeth. You think

- It means anything?

- You never know.

I think it does. I really do.

He's this close to

Sending for us. If we can just...

...get one of these right.

Matua Tane,

I need to ask you something.

I was thinking,

After the Birdman competition...

...I thought, I'd like to get married.

Of course! Good! Who's the girl?

She's... Short Ear.

What?

She's Short Ear

Put me down!

Are you acting like your father?

Do you want to provoke the gods as he did?

I give you

A chance to make up for his sin,

and you act just like him!

I'm not like him.

Then what is this talk?

A Short Ear

You want me not to swim for you?

The bones say you must.

No one else can atone for

your father's sin.

That's why the White Canoe

Has not been sent.

Nineteen springs,

nineteen winners...

What else could it be?

Except the statues.

What's her name?

- Ramana.

- Haoa's...

...Daughter?!

The canoe builder?

The one I banished?!

Why must you marry her?

Can't you just take her

and be done with it?

I love her, Matua Tane.

All right.

Let me talk to the priest.

There is a way.

Tupa will explain.

This is most unusual and

taboo, as you know.

But, if you win...

...the gods may be placated if

the girl has been purified.

How?

Entering the cave of he White Virgins.

Her skin is

- Too dark.

- For how long?

Till the Birdman race.

That's six moons!

Yes it is.

She could die in there.

Possibly.

I can't let her

Do that.

I can't risk angering Hotu Matu'a.

Not when we're this close.

How badly does she want to be your wife?

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