Tiko and the Shark (Ti-Koyo e il suo pescecane)

I am Ti-Koyo, the shark's friend.

It's what they call me on our islands,

the Tuamotu Islands in the Pacific Ocean.

The appearance of a shark is a fear every man knows.

It's a ruthless fight.

When I was a little boy, I dreamed of having adventures to talk about.

But my story was not like the other ones.

It was so extraordinary that still today,

some people wonder if it's a legend.

I was born in this village,

in a family of fishermen, the Okunis.

I was still a little boy when my brothers were grown up.

We were twelve, and Punuà was the oldest.

We all learned to fish from him.

He was the best, and he was like a father to us.

He decided if we were to fish in the ocean with nets

or in the lagoon with long harpoons, the "patià",

and with underwater glasses.

Sometimes the fishermen of my island were very lucky.

They found the precious mother-of-pearl oysters, nacres.

If left in the sun, they became shiny

and could be sold to the passing ships for a lot of money.

But ships rarely came to the village during my childhood.

Cocoyo lived in the last stilt hut

that he used as a house and emporium.

In his emporium he sold a bit of everything,

and in exchange of the goods he received from ships,

he gave sacks of copra which is the coconut pulp.

It was the only product of our land and Cocoyo stocked up on it.

are 82 sacks of copra that's ready.

What prices did you mark this morning?

No. First you must open your ears and then have your head work.

How many times must I tell you?

If in the evening the radio says the dollar has gone up...

Understand? Our items must cost more.

And if there is a zero near the number, you must add another one.

If you don't understand this, you're not suited for trading.

Before starting to trade, Cocoyo had been a sort of witch doctor.

During the years of my childhood, many people joked about it,

but nobody left for the high seas or for the lagoon

if they didn't stop by his hut

and receive his good wishes.

Please, have them fish well and return safe and sound.

They say they're not scared, but they desire your help.

Alright! Someone is taking care of you! You can have faith.

Good luck and good fishing!

There we go.

And this is me. Since there was no room in the hut,

and I was the youngest, I slept in a fish trap.

They never call me.

It's going badly, darn it!

It's already rotten.

It stinks!

Goodbye, Cocoyo!

Ti-Koyo. Well?

You woke up late today, again.

- I told them to call me. - Don't get upset.

You'll come with me this morning to collect algae again.

The red sea weed is the best for tooth-aches.

When I was little they never took me fishing, either.

So I went on the shore and spoke with the fish.

- Did they understand you? - Sure. They understood very well.

A long time ago, men and fish used to be friends.

- If they met, they said hello. - Why not now?

Now they lower their nets.

When will I grow up and go fishing?

First of all you must understand that fish can't be brought home alive

and you must not cry every time one of them has to be killed.

I was 12 when they took me fishing the first time.

- Were you good at it? - I was very good.

Down there, a long time ago,

I caught a moonfish.

Nobody can ever get it and you know why?

Because when you're about to catch it,

the moonfish sets!

Today I'd be there at sea,

I'd be the best fisherman of the islands

if I hadn't been a witch doctor.

But you said you spoke to fish. Do you still do that?

Fish talk, but...

nobody understands them anymore. I don't either.

What a shame! What did the fish say?

They came here on the shore, to talk to me.

Big and small. Even sharks!

They weren't all ferocious as they are now.

Some sharks guided brave fishermen

where the fishing was more abundant.

Here. I must go back to the village.

- Here. I brought more. - Very good.

- Necklaces go like hot cakes. - I made them all.

Good! If you add the others, that makes...

12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21...

Next time, we will need many more.

Mr. Yen! I thought you were on the pier waiting for the ship.

No. I don't like confusion.

Many people come and I...

- Shall I pick them up at the ship? - Go.

- I'll take them home. - Sit down. I'll get you a drink.

They paid to have fun,

but every ship arrival changes the face of this island.

You have foreign arrive and then you complain.

Business is business.

The world changes and we must keep up with the times.

But I didn't think it would change so quickly.

In a couple of years we won't recognize our island anymore.

The truth is we're old and alone.

When we left our country, my son didn't feel up to work in this island.

He wanted to go to America where he became rich in a short while.

- Then you know... - He died in an accident.

Yes, and today on the ship there are his two children

who've been in boarding school for five years.

I don't even have the courage to go meet them.

Their names are different than ours, Jeff and Diana.

Hi!

Hi!

My comb!

Thanks!

They always take it out on me. They like teasing me.

But I have another comb to give that little girl.

I have one.

Here it is!

What are you doing here? This is not your house.

Look. It's a shark fin.

- I comb myself with these. - I can see that.

You want to comb your hair with it?

Don't get close, it must be infected.

I don't understand how you can hold something like that.

- What does "infected" mean? - You don't know?

- No. - Look.

This game is not infected.

It's made of plastic, sterilized.

I bought it in America.

But it's fake. If you want to come with me to the village,

I'll show you a real shark. My brothers killed it.

Grandad doesn't want us to come to the village.

Ok, but if you change your mind, look for me.

You come with me, and I can take care of you. Trust me.

Here it is.

My brother Punuà stuck him first.

Look at what a big mouth these huge animals have.

I can fit inside.

In America, on television, there was a bigger one.

Yes, but this one was mean.

He wanted to eat a fisherman and my brothers killed it.

It's full of flies here. Let's go away.

Let's go to the other coast of the island.

- It's beautiful there. - But I'm tired to walk.

Slowly, or they'll run away.

- Where can they go? - They run quickly.

I'll sit here. They bother me.

Alright.

It's a place where they come to sleep.

If they go inside the holes, it's easier to catch them.

They are curious about the leaf hanging on a string.

They keep it in their claws and stay in there. Look.

- Have you ever driven a go-kart? - What?

Look. It bit it!

Look how big it is.

- Look, Diana. - Aren't you afraid it will sting?

It takes a lot more to scare me.

Darn! It's the second time I must do my braid over.

Great way of having fun! Sticking fish to coconuts.

They can't get away, keep floating and starve.

Diana, look. Look at what I'll do.

Come, Diana.

Go away!

The day for big fishing finally arrived.

Everyone is at the eastern lagoon. Even Mr. Yen and his grandchildren.

For this type of fishing, they make a big effort, but with poor results.

First they surround the fish, then they hit the seashells.

- The brightest ones are like mirrors. - When there's the new moon.

- They fish with the nacres. - Right.

Look. They use them as mirrors.

They scare and drive out the fish hiding among the corals.

Diana, finally my brothers will take me fishing.

If the sun doesn't go away, we'll get all the fish in the lagoon.

Be careful of sharks!

I will be careful.

Grandad, will you keep the umbrella? I'd like to take a picture.

Sure. Look. They're closing the great circle.

Run to the tool hut and get the big fish trap. Go!

I'll run!

The nets. Quick!

Harpoon now!

You're such a small shark and you managed to save yourself.

Hey, Ti-Koyo!

You're a great help! Are you already tired?

- Let's go home. - Just a moment. I'm tired.

I brought you a moray. I harpooned it down there.

It's poisonous if it bites, but it's good to eat.

Maybe a bit hard.

But you're a shark. You have good teeth and many.

Come here, Manidù.

Eat, Manidù.

Manidù means "brother".

- Hi, Cocoyo. - Good morning.

Do you want to buy something?

No. I'm taking a walk. Are you fishing?

Yes, Miss Diana. I'm fishing.

Will you eat all these fish?