WHEN I WAS A KID,
ACTOR MARLON BRANDO
(1924–2004) WAS MY
SUPERHERO. I APED HIS
WALK, MUMBLED HIS
TALK . . . EVEN SCRATCHED
MYSELF A LITTLE MORE
THAN USUAL.
I
imagine young garçons growing up in
France around the time of artist Paul
Gauguin (1848–1903) felt the same about
him, even though poor Paul wasn't
famous until after he died. Still, I can visualize
them donning berets, grabbing their easels
and heading out to the nearest landscape.
So what do Brando and Gauguin have in
common besides fame?
They fell in love with French Polynesia,
resided here for long periods of their lives and
created some of their best works here.
Throughout French Polynesia, you will
hear many claiming "Brando slept here" and
"Gauguin sketched here." They remain the
most famous residents who ever set foot on
these exotic islands. Brando's secret hideaway
is now an upscale resort (The Brando) on the
BRANDO,
GAUGUIN
AND I DO TAHITI
BY DOMINICK A. MERLE
DREAMSCAPES WINTER 2015/2016
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