Le Prince du Pacifique plot
1918. A French military ship runs aground on the island of Fenua Poerava, nicknamed 'The Pearl Island', a piece of lost paradise somewhere in the Polynesian archipelago. Captain on board is Alfred de Morsac, honored with a Military Cross of Honor, who comes to train a battalion of Oceanian soldiers. On the island, he comes into contact with the Hivas, an ancient warrior people dominated by the evil and greedy Commander Lefevre. Morsac befriends Reia, the young prince of the island, who sees him as the 'Tefa'aora', he who, according to an ancient Tahiti legend, must free his people from oppression. However, Moeata, Rela's mother of French origin, sees in Morsac nothing more than 'a dirty dog from a European'. To put an end to his unwanted presence, Morsac chooses the haze path, together with Barnabé, a meek con man.