New Zealand sets 'Orator' for Oscar

It's a story of firsts for New Zealand, as tyro helmer Tusi Tamasese's pic "The Orator" has become New Zealand's first-ever foreign-language Oscar entry. Backed by the New Zealand Film Commission and the Samoan Government, the pic bowed at Venice where it received a special mention and Commission topper Graeme Mason says he hopes it is the first of many entries for the Pacific region which has been underrepresented in the past.Pic tells the story of a small-statured Samoan named Saili who must fight for his land and his pride and is filmed on and around the islands of Upolu in Samoa."It's fantastic lyrical exploration of bravery and love," says Mason who also chaired the selection committee. "But on top of that it is also an extraordinary portrait of a place and a way of life and I think that is something which resonates with the foreign-language voters." Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com