The monumental statues of Easter Island have long been surrounded by a great air of mystery.  These centuries old and quite literally larger than life figures are believed to have been hand carved by the Rapa Nui people of the Chilean-Polynesian island in the 1200s. From archaeologists to the few tourists who managed to arrive there before 1970, the statues have captivated minds wondering how such gargantuan structures could have been carved by human hands with primitive tools and how they would have been moved to various points on the island.

Easter Island Rises was the directorial debut of veteran documentarian Bill Benenson, shot in 1970 and done with the support of The International Monuments fund. The film focuses on the shipment of one of these famous Moai statues to The United States, where it went on display at Seagram’s Plaza in New York City. Today, exact replicas cast from the original piece are displayed in permanent residence at Universities, Libraries, Museums, and in front of the home of an American arts patron.

Social Impact

In Bill Benenson’s directorial debut, he began exploring a theme of preserving unique cultures and saving the world’s treasures.