“Black Harvest” is the final documentary in Connolly’s trilogy of an amazing breakthrough observational documentary that deals with the intrusion of the contemporary culture on the aboriginal Ganiga tribe. Anderson and Connolly go into the highlands of Papua New Guinea to create a historical resonance of the complex relationship between the people of the Ganiga tribe and Joe Leahy. Leahy is not a descendant of the Ganiga tribe yet his presence is widely accepted by the people. As the half-aboriginal and half-white owner who owned a prosperous coffee plantation that he built on lands he bought from the tribe at a cheap cost. Anderson and Connolly shows how the modern generation of film makers used stylistic and cinematic elements to bring out the exploitation of the minority groups in the society.
Interestingly, Connolly uses an observational form that is common throughout the documentary. Leahy forms a business relationship with the Ganiga tribe. The agreement tilts Leahy’s favor as he offers the people a sixty to forty split on the harvest. I admire Leahy’s capitalist actions as he is the type of person who sees an opportunity to excel in life and takes the opportunity. Of course his actions lack good moral and ethical principles, but in the modern society, survival only comes to those who will reach out and take the opportunities to survive. Personally, I believe that the Ganiga tribe is gullible or the weakness they display comes from the poverty of the tribe. Either way, I would easily side with Leahy as he represents the strength that one needs to survive in a brutal world.
The most outstanding scene in the documentary comes when the Ganiga tribe rises up against their neighbors in battle. The use of the spears, arrows, and bows showed that they were stronger than I originally thought when they agreed to Leahy’s offer without question. Yet, they fiercely battle the neighboring tribe and bring some amount of excitement to the film. Additionally, Stephen Holden argues that the “disgruntled and suspicious” (Holden 2) tribe stands up against Leahy and “refuses to pick the crop, even though it is the peak of the harvest” (Holden 2). But this act of rebellion does not deter Leahy and the audience sees him making a desperate attempt to save the crops. He stages one of the tribal funeral rituals depicted the impending death of the farm, but the ritual only offended the tribe.
The major criticism of the seventy-five minute long film is that Connolly could have spent more time developing the Ganiga tribe as a stronger group that relied less on persons to create their happiness. The Ganiga people are way too trusting of Leahy and his offer. They allowed Popina to stand as the middle man who, along with Leahy planned their destiny. But, Connolly allows the audience to draw different conclusions on the conflicting emotions of the Ganiga tribe between the promises of wealth and their tribal traditions. The opinions may differ largely, but I believe that the stubbornness in the Ganiga people was largely self-destructive.
The most effective scene is that of Popina who skillfully connects the tribe with Leahy. He wants what is best for his people and serves as the person who pacifies the discrepancies between the tribe and Leahy. At the funeral ritual Popina deviates from the traditions and shares the food with Leahy even though the people complained. But, I believe that even though the persons in the tribe could not truly understand their feelings towards, Leahy, the unease they felt for him stems from his aloof nature and their mistrust of his offer. Popina’s loyalty to his people remains firm despite his understandable need to want a better life. But, when it really counts, Popina remains loyal to his people and show the unity that exists within tribal communities.
In concluding, “Black Harvest” is remarkable despite the lack of an obvious narrator. Anderson and Connelly opt to allow the audience to create different views on the society that is falling apart. I believe that the film makers have done an excellent job of showing the ways in which people from a third – world setting are exploited because of their need to find economic satisfaction. The Ganiga have felt the hands of misfortune because of the plunge of the coffee market. This experiment with contemporary capitalism destroys their dreams and they automatically revert to their primitive ways. My biggest connection to the film is the way the film clarifies a number of misconceptions I have had of people living in poverty. I have never quite understood the reasons for a number of choices they make, but the way in which Ganiga people blindly go into a deal with a capitalist and the poor conditions under which they live helps me to understand that the cycle of poverty will make persons take drastic measure to rise from poverty. Additionally, I was forced to accept that marginalization exists is common around the world.
Works cited
Anderson, Robin & Connolly, Bob. “Black Harvest” (2011) Web 26 Feb 2016
<www.watchdocumentary.org>
Holden, Stephen, Black Harvest (1992) Doing Business in Papua New Guinea, New York Times
Review, Published: April 4, 1992, Web 26 Feb 2016 <http://www.nytimes.com>
