Reri and the youths Matahi are in love with each other. The old warrior Hitu admits that Reri is to be the favorite virgin to the gods. What this means is she needs to stay untouched she and her lover is going to be murdered. But Matahi abducts and escapes with her to an island ruled by the white man, where their gods would be powerless and harmless. Tabu is the last picture from manager F.W. Murnau. He died before the film's premiere in a car collision.