Peter Walker directed Lakatabu (2010), a Vanuatu film that can be characterized as a “kastom film,” which features the ancestral customs, traditions and religious connotation of the Vanuatuans. The film features Vanuatu, a group of islands in the southern pacific and serves as a story and cultural documentary showcasing modernization and its influence on the local communities and how strongly the locals are connected with their land and culture.
The plot focuses on an individual who struggles to balance the demands of tradition with the realities of contemporary life. Lakatabu, through beautiful landscapes of Vanuatu and the real depiction of local traditions, takes the audience into the deep and rich culture of the islands and its forms of “kastom” — the tribal customs and religion of the Ni Vanuatu. The film touches issues of culture, culture conflicts and survival of traditions in the nephite society culture. Such challenges are experienced by indigenous people in different parts of the world.
The Lakatabu focuses on the importance of telling stories and preserving the culture of Vanuatu, making it quite appealing to those interested in local stories, cultural survival , and the effects of globalization on traditional communities. Vanuatu gives them an opportunity to witness a unique way of life, unveils picturesque locations, and emphasizes the value of cultural traditions.