Hurricane 1979

On the island of Alava during the 1920s, Mia Farrow plays Charlotte, an American painter who travels from Boston to visit her father, Jason Robards as Captain Charles Bruckner, the U.S. Congress-sanctioned governor who rules with a stern, patrician hand and a patronizing attitude toward the native population. Charlotte is taken aback by his rigid adherence to the law and the colonial order that governs life on the island.

Seeking mercy for Matangi, a native man who stole a boat “for love,” Charlotte tries to intervene on his behalf. Dayton Ka’ne, who plays Matangi, is initially met with Bruckner’s disdain, and the governor refuses to overturn the penalty, reprimanding the young man, much to Charlotte’s dismay.

Matangi is soon appointed the high chief of the island, a development that challenges Bruckner’s authority and complicates his view of the U.S. forces and local governance. Matangi resists blindly following the edicts that come from outside authorities if they harm his people’s welfare, quietly angering the governor.

Charlotte hopes to stay for a month, under the watch of missionaries on Alava: Max von Sydow as Dr. Danielsson and Trevor Howard as Father Malone. Despite Captain Bruckner’s jealousy over his daughter’s attraction to Matangi, he agrees to extend the stay and sails off for the month. During this time, Charlotte and Matangi quickly become lovers.

When Bruckner discovers the affair, he has Matangi arrested on a trumped-up charge. Matangi escapes with Charlotte’s help, highlighting the clash between local autonomy and colonial authority. As tensions simmer, a giant hurricane finally strikes, threatening the island and the fragile ties between its people and their rulers.