The Hurricane (1937)

The entire movie is a flashback -- we're told that a strip of wasteland was once an island paradise and then we travel back in time to see it as it used to be.

Manakoora is a beautiful place full of happy free spirits. They know the ocean and the vegetation and co-exist with the occupying French. The story focuses on a young couple: Terangi and Marama. He's the prom-kingy gifted sailor and she's the daughter of the chief. They've got their whole lives laid out before them, but then Terangi winds up in prison for assaulting a white man, Marama bears their daughter alone, and a hurricane hits.

Not sure what the moral here is supposed to be. Don't cage a beautiful wild creature? Watch out if you're happy, because the world's about to crap on you? Don't try to find meaning in melodramas that feature sarongs?

C+