Marianne Weissbach, The Solar Nation of Tokelau exclusive interview
Exclusive Interview
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Louise van Rooyen - Beamafilm
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24/01/2022
Marianne Weissbach of Pacifica Productions talks with Beamaflm's Louise van Rooyen about the making of her fascinating documentary, The Solar Nation of Tokelau, a film that showcases what a small nation is doing to positively impact climate change. In this interview, Marianne shares her inspirations, challenges and joys of making the film along with her immense passion for the South Pacific islands.
Watch 'The Solar Nation of Tokelau' on Beamafilm now!
The documentary tells the story of how the small New Zealand territory of Tokelau switched its power supply to 100% solar energy.
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The Solar Nation of Tokelau tells the story of three small remote atolls in the middle of the Pacific that overcame their isolation and dependence on diesel generators to become the first 100% solar-powered nation in the world. Tokelau has proven that it is possible to reduce the use of fossil fuels and to keep the emission of greenhouse gases to an absolute minimum. Ironically, while Tokelau is exemplary in switching to 100% solar power, it also struggles with the critical impact of the emissions of the rest of the world.
Tokelau's future and ongoing existence are threatened by sea-level rise, forcing the islanders to build sea walls to protect themselves from storm floods. The film gives a unique insight into the way of life on a small atoll: the locals' fishing and cooking traditions, education, culture, religious and political life.
Filmmakers Marianne and Ulli Weissbach of Pacifica Productions lived in Samoa, Fiji and the Cook Islands more than 30 years ago travelling with a Bolex camera and a sound recorder in their backpacks. Their love of the Pacific Islands led them to Tokelau and eventually to New Zealand where they lived on the North Shore of Auckland for years. Marianne Weissbach now lives in Kerikeri.
BEAMAFILM: Hi Marianne, thanks for joining me for this interview. We love your film and hope you can share a little about what inspired you and Pacifica Productions to make The Solar Nation of Tokelau?
WEISSBACH: My husband Ulli and I had a life-long passion for the South Pacific islands, especially for those who are so far away from everywhere with their very own way of life and culture still intact. Ulli had been to Tokelau some years earlier to make a documentary and fell in love with the people and beauty of the atolls. They reminded him of our backpacking tours 30 years ago to very remote parts of the South Pacific, when you could still call most islands paradise.
Tokelauan school boat approaches the islet where school buildings are located.
BEAMAFILM: It sounds like it wouldn't be too hard to attract a film crew to this project. Can you tell us what it was like working on location with the film cast and crew?
WEISSBACH: The film team was from New Zealand and it wasn't difficult to excite them to shoot on a remote Pacific Island. But the only way to get there is flying first to Western Samoa and then to take the weekly boat to Tokelau, with no exact time schedule. The ferry trip takes 36 hours and it is always very rough. Unfortunately the whole film crew was seasick for the entire trip. This experience was apparently so bad for one of them that he refused any future film trips there. Tokelau now has a newer boat and rumour has it that the NZ government plans to build an airstrip. And that will change life on these remote islands forever.
BEAMAFILM: That's a shame. Can you tell us what your favourite scene in the film is and why?
WEISSBACH: My favourite scene in the film is definitely the school boat with the children on their way to the motu (small islet) where the school building is located. It is a trip every school kid in the world can only dream about as the kids seem very happy.
Tokelauan school children inside a school boat.
BEAMAFILM: Such a great scene! Are there any standout behind-the-scenes stories from the making of the film that you can share with our audience?
WEISSBACH: Well, the shooting had to be interrupted because the Vaka, (Polynesian canoe) shown in the documentary) was delayed due to bad weather and the film crew had to return to New Zealand due to other assignments. Because it was close to hurricane season, the entire film schedule had to be postponed for another six months after which the crew had to endure the boat trip again.
BEAMAFILM: Can you share a little about how audiences have been responding to your film and any of the conversations you had with audience members?
WEISSBACH: This documentary was a production for major European TV stations in Germany and France. The European audience was absolutely thrilled because no one had ever heard of the tiny nation of Tokelau before, and they were impressed with what a small nation was trying to do to make a positive impact on climate change. Some wanted to know if they could go there for a holiday but there is only one very simple small guest house which is not suitable for visitors. Maybe that will change with the building of an airstrip.
I'd also like to mention the music which is composed by 'Te Vaka', a part-Tokelauan band with whom we were very close. They are passionate about climate change and what it means to the small islands. They have won numerous international awards and were nominated for a 2017 Best Music Grammy Award for the animated movie "Moana".
School children disembark the school boat at the motu (small islet) where the school building is located.
BEAMAFILM: Great! Are you currently working on any new projects you can tell us about?
WEISSBACH: Pacifica was planning on doing an in-depth documentary about the Inati system of sharing in Tokelau. But this can no longer happen due to the passing away of the director, Ulli Weissbach. Maybe someone else will do it as long as it still exists.
Thanks, Marianne. we hope that Uli's vision can be realised sometime soon and we greatly appreciate the interview as well as your great film!
Watch 'The Solar Nation of Tokelau' on Beamafilm here!
Marianne Weissbach, The Solar Nation of Tokelau