RAI Film Admin

The Sacred Thresh 2016 18'

After ploughing and sowing, there follows harvesting and threshing, with a very dignified threshing squad ritually touring the village inns. This film is part of **Carnival King of Europe DVD 4

Central Europe Festivals / Carnival Folklore

A Saint from New York 1995 30'

Directed by Line Hatland .

Dorothy Day, ex-communist, anarchist, single mother and co-founder of the widespread ‘Catholic Worker’ movement — died in New York in 1980. Soon after the Claretian Fathers started a campaign

North America Alternative culture Religion / Belief / Faith

Scenes of Resistance 2000 30'

Directed by Alejandra Navarro Smith .

A series of portraits of life in a Zapatista indigenous community in Chiapas, Southern Mexico. This film invites us into the people's everyday lives, and presents their own views of the fight against

Central America Resistance Indigenous peoples / First Nations peoples

The Second Red Line 2004 25'

Directed by Veera Lehto .

In HIV testing, the second red line is the indication of a positive result. This film follows two volunteers working with HIV & Aids sufferers in the Buduburam Refugee Camp in Ghana. In the

South-East Asia Health / Health care / Healing Development projects

The Secret of the Stone 2009 39'

Directed by Zhifang Song Gary Seaman Steven Rousso-Schindler .

Located on the North China Plain about 200 miles south of Beijing, 'Song Family Village' is home to about 1,300 people. Some 80% of all villagers are members of a single lineage of the Song surname.

Central Asia and Far East Family / Kinship Collective / Community identity Ritual Festivals / Carnival

Seed and Earth 1989 36'

Directed by Lina Fruzzetti Alfred Guzzetti Ned Johnston Ákos Östör .

Seed on Earth is a film about everyday life in rural Bangladesh (village of Janta, near Bishnupur town). It follows the daily schedule of two families and observes the complementary and difference of

South Asia Rural Family / Kinship Gender Role and Identity

A Sheepherder's Homecoming 1996 40'

Directed by Allen Moore Louis Werner .

This film documents a migrant worker’s experiences as a herder on a Nevada sheep ranch who then returns to his family in Mexico after a long absence to renew ties and find a job at home. It

North America Central America Migration Labour

Shooting Freetown 2011 29'

Directed by Kieran Hanson .

A decade since Sierra Leone's devastating civil war, from the ashes rises a new dawn of creativity in audio-visual media. Inspired by Jean Rouch's ‘shared anthropology’ and ‘ethno-fiction’,

West Africa Film / Photography / Mass media War / Conflict / Reconciliation Reflexivity

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The Short Happy Life of the Poklad 2012 27'

Directed by Michele Trentini .

In the Dalmatian island of Lastovo, the Poklad is a monumental, all-encompassing annual celebration. Dressed as XIX C. British marines, the Pokladari escort the captive dummy to its death. This

South-East Europe Festivals / Carnival Folklore

The Shrimpers 2008 30'

Directed by Austin Paterek .

For the past 10 years the shrimping industry in United States has been on a steady decline. Estimates show that only 15 percent of the original fleet is still in operation, due to overseas

North America Hunting / Gathering / Fishing Trade

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The Silvesterchläuse of Hundwil 2014 12'

Directed by Michele Trentini .

The old Julian New Year’s Eve on January 13th is still observed and celebrated in some Reformed communities in Outer Appenzell in Switzerland. This film is part of **Carnival King of Europe DVD

Western Europe Festivals / Carnival Folklore

The Silvesters of Urnäsch 2011 13'

Directed by Michele Trentini .

A celebration of mountain wilderness is all too evident in the costumes of the Silvesters of Urnäsch in Outer Appenzell, particularly in their “Pretty/Ugly” version. This film is part of

Western Europe Festivals / Carnival

Sin tierra, no somos Shuar 2009 23'

Directed by Stacey Williams .

Shuar traditions and land are intimately tied to another. This film explores how the traditions and relationships change when foreign mining companies enter their territory.

South America Land Rights Indigenous peoples / First Nations peoples Social Conflict

A Small Light 2004 32'

Directed by Julia Yezbick .

Through following the daily life of a home for the elderly in Kathmandhu, Nepal, run by Catholic nuns but situated beside the cremation ghats of Pashupathinath Hindu temple, this film explores

South Asia Death Inter-religious relations Religion / Belief / Faith Elderly people

Small Man of the Forest 2004 37'

Directed by Hugh Hartford .

Murray Collins leaves his city life in search of a bipedal ape. On his journey to highland Sumatra, he meets an academic, three farmers, two conservationists and a shaman, all of whom advise him on

South-East Asia Animals

Smell the Roses 2003 28'

Directed by Julie Milling .

Christiania is a self-governing community in the heart of Copenhagen set up by squatters at the height of 1970s idealism. Faced with extinction or urban redevelopment, residents struggle to redefine a fading ideology.

Scandinavia Alternative culture Urban

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So'o: Life and death of a cow in Puerto Casado 2016 24'

Directed by Valentina Bonifacio .

In the golden age of Puerto Casado, in Paraguay, at least eight cows were slaughtered every day to feed its population of 6,000 people. Eating "asado" (roasted meat) is still at the core of

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Song Family Village Takes a Bride 2009 27'

Directed by Zhifang Song Gary Seaman Steven Rousso-Schindler .

Most weddings in the village still reflect traditional patterns of patrilineal descent and patrilocal residence. The bride leaves her natal home to marry into her husband’s village, where she is a

Central Asia and Far East Marriage Family / Kinship Gender Role and Identity Social Change

Sons of the Moon 1984 25'

Directed by Frank Speed Deirdre LaPin .

In isolated mountain hamlets in Nigeria’s Jos Plateau the Ngas have traditionally observed the movements of the moon in the night sky. The moon is a key symbol in Ngas cosmology, believed to

West Africa Religion / Belief / Faith Music / Ethnomusicology Everyday Life Ritual

Sophia and Her People 1985 35'

Directed by Peter Loïzos .

Sofia and her family lost their village home in 1975 when Turkey invaded Cyprus. The film, mainly set in Nicosia in 1983, shows the pressures of refugee economic recovery through shift work in a

South-East Europe Refugees / Displaced populations Social Change Family / Kinship

A Spark in Him 2008 28'

Directed by Claudia Engels .

‘A Spark in Him’ is a film about the life story of Sajay Kumar, a young man without arms who lives in a home for disabled children in Kerala, India, and studies at the College of Fine Arts. By

South Asia Health / Health care / Healing Children / Young people Education / Knowledge Transmission

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Spear and Sword: a Payment of Bridewealth on the Island of Roti 1988 22'

Directed by James J. Fox Timothy Asch Patsy Asch .

The film begins as the groom’s side gathers the animals and money for a bridewealth payment, and discusses problems that might arise in negotiating the exchange. In ritual silence, they walk to the

South-East Asia Ritual Marriage Family / Kinship

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Speeding the Plough in Stilfs 2015 22'

Directed by Michele Trentini .

In Upper Vinschgau in South Tyrol a highly charged Carnival parade takes place with the specific purpose of “speeding the plough”. This film is part of **Carnival King of Europe DVD 4 SPEEDING

South-East Europe Festivals / Carnival Folklore

Spirit 2019 19'

Directed by Jane Dyson Ross Harrison .

Saraswati is a new arrival in an Indian Himalayan village. She wonders how she will ever feel at home in the new setting. “Spirit” by Jane Dyson and Ross Harrison is a story of longing and

Central Asia and Far East Gender Role and identity Agriculture/ Farming Everyday Life Family/ Kinship

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St. Anthony Bonfires in Mamoiada 2014 17'

Directed by Michele Trentini .

St. Anthony’s Day marks the first annual outing of the celebrated Sardinian Mamuthones with their blackened shepherd’s outfit, carefully directed by their eternal antagonists, the Issohadores.

South-East Europe Festivals / Carnival Folklore

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St. Martin’s Bonfires in Predazzo 2010 10'

Directed by Michele Trentini .

On November 11th, great bonfires are lit by the local youth to celebrate the distribution of the annual revenues from the forestry harvest. This film is part of **Carnival King of Europe DVD 3 -

South-East Europe Festivals / Carnival Folklore

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St. Nicholas’ Night in Val di Fassa 2010 15'

Directed by Michele Trentini .

As an early harbinger of celestial light, St. Nicholas and his mixed company of angels and devils visits every home, to tell children off in the most persuasive of manners. This film is part of

South-East Europe Festivals / Carnival Folklore

Staging a Return 1994 30'

Directed by Jakob Hogel .

The Faroe Islands in the North Atlantic are a Danish dependency and for generations, young people have gone to Denmark to complete their studies. When they return for the summer, there is a tradition

Scandinavia Dance / Theatre / Performance

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Sweeping Evil Away in Rauris 2017 9'

Directed by Michele Trentini .

The Schnabelperchten of Rauris in the Salzburger Alps are mysterious, spiteful figures who appear out of nowhere with their brooms, and go round every house to perform a simple and effective

Central Europe Folklore Festivals / Carnival

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The Sweet Life and All That Goes With It 2002 29'

Directed by Anne Schiltz .

Although the Saxons arrived in Transylvania, Romania over 800 years ago, they have retained a strong sense of their distinctive identity and still speak German. After the Revolution of 1989, most

South-East Europe Collective / Community identity Travellers / Roma

Swings and Roundabouts 1994 30'

Directed by Helen Pratt .

Five years after the downfall of Ceausescu and Romania still receives an influx of Western European aid workers to help with rural orphanage projects. Temporary and full-time volunteers at an

South-East Europe Children / Young people Squatter Settlements / Homelessness Development projects

Film list