Film list

[at-low-tide--Film-image]
At Low Tide 2016 63'
  Directed by Anna Grimshaw .
Every day, carrying the simplest of tools, diggers across coastal Maine set out at low tide to dig for clams on the wide mud flats that stretch far into the bay. It is backbreaking work. But it has
North America Material Culture Labour Hunting / Gathering / Fishing
[autumns-work--Film-image]
Autumn’s Work 2013 47'
  Directed by Anna Grimshaw .
"Autumn’s Work" follows Bill Coperthwaite as he prepares for winter. Wrestling with a large felled tree amidst its vast tangle of branches, Bill slowly and methodically breaks it down
North America Alternative culture Rural Everyday Life Art / Artists / Artisans
[benjamin-and-his-brother--Film-image]
Benjamin and His Brother 1999 87'
    Directed by Arthur Howes .
Years of war and ethnic conflict in the Sudan have created a generation of young men, known as the "Lost Boys", who have spent more years in refugee camps than in their home communities.
North America East Africa Refugees / Displaced populations War / Conflict / Reconciliation Children / Young people Family / Kinship
[the-cellar--Film-image]
The Cellar 2018 84'
  Directed by Anna Grimshaw .
George Sprague lives and works in Buck's Harbor, Maine. He is widely known for his "cellar" (affectionately called the whine cellar), where people gather to talk, make lobster traps, share
North America Hunting/Gathering/Fishing Trade
[a-chair-in-six-parts--Film-image]
A Chair: in six parts 2013 42'
    Student Directed by Anna Grimshaw .
A poem about a chair. In 1960, Bill Coperthwaite bought 300 acres of wilderness in Machiasport, Maine. Influenced by the poetry of Emily Dickinson and by the back to the land movement of Scott and
North America Material Culture Alternative culture Art / Artists / Artisans
[dreamcatcher--Film-image]
Dreamcatcher 2015 98'
    Directed by Kim Longinotto .
A film set in Chicago about an inspirational woman who has defied her past and now rescues girls and young women from a life on the streets.
North America Gender Role and Identity Labour Sex / Sexuality
[the-eskimos-of-pond-inlet--Film-image]
The Eskimos of Pond Inlet 1977 52'
    Directed by Michael Grigsby .
For the Eskimos of Pond Inlet - a new village in North Baffin Island in which they have been settled by the Canadian Government – the life of the semi-nomadic hunter has given way to that of
North America Indigenous peoples / First Nations peoples Hunting / Gathering / Fishing Collective / Community identity Social Conflict
[finn-beach--Film-image]
Finn Beach 2020 63'
  Directed by Anna Grimshaw .
The summer draws to a close, but the season is not yet over. Work continues -- baiting and hauling traps, sorting and shipping lobsters. There are always tasks to be done. But within the daily
North America Hunting/Gathering/Fishing Trade
[the-float--Film-image]
The Float 2020 75'
  Directed by Anna Grimshaw .
The peak of the lobster season has arrived. George works closely with his son and grandson to repair their float ravaged by high tides, strong winds and the constant erosion of salt water. Towing
North America Hunting/Gathering/Fishing Trade
[in-the-land-of-the-war-canoes--Film-image]
In the Land of the War Canoes 1972 47'
    Directed by Edward S. Curtis .
The film was made in 1914 by Edward Curtis. The plot concerns the efforts of a young man, Motana, son of a great chief, to obtain a bride and how he is thwarted by a wicked sorcerer. Many of the
North America Archival material / Museum displays Marriage Film / Photography / Mass media
[in-search-of-cool-ground-the-mursi-trilogy--Film-image]
In Search of Cool Ground: The Mursi Trilogy 1987 52'
    Directed by Leslie Woodhead .
This is a trilogy about aspects of the culture of two groups of people, the Kwegu and the Mursi, in Ethiopia. The titles are: THE MURSI , THE KWEGU, THE MIGRANTS *What made this trilogy special
North America Social Change Socioeconomic conditions Health / Health care / Healing
[in-search-of-the-hamatsa-a-tale-of-headhunting--Film-image]
In Search of the Hamat’sa: A Tale of Headhunting 2004 33'
    Directed by Aaron Glass .
The Hamat’sa (or “Cannibal Dance”) is the most important—and highly represented ceremony of the Kwakwaka’wakw (Kwakiutl) people of British Columbia. This film traces the history of
North America Archival material / Museum displays Dance / Theatre / Performance Ritual Informant-researcher relationship Indigenous peoples / First Nations peoples
[in-and-out-of-africa--Film-image]
In and Out of Africa 1993 59'
    Directed by Ilisa Barbash Lucien Taylor .
A classic in ethnographic filmmaking, In and Out of Africa traces the transnational trade of African Art between West Africa and the USA, providing an insight into how value, commoditization and
North America Art / Artists / Artisans Trade Material Culture
[in-the-dooryard--Film-image]
In the dooryard 2020 71'
  Directed by Anna Grimshaw .
Spring in Buck’s Harbor is about preparing for the fishing season ahead. Work on lobster traps and on halibut hooks begins in earnest. But it is rarely a solitary activity. Every day people
North America Hunting/Gathering/Fishing Trade
[muktuk--Film-image]
Muktuk 1983 40'
    Directed by Graham Johnston .
Shot on the mosquito-ridden shores of the Mackenzie Delta in Canada’s North-West territories, the film deals with the annual Beluga (white whale) hunt. Three families are followed who have
North America Hunting / Gathering / Fishing Animals Indigenous peoples / First Nations peoples Education / Knowledge transmission
[new-york-just-another-city--Film-image]
New York Just Another City 2019 18'
  Directed by André Lopes Joana Brandão .
Brazilian Guarani filmmaker Patrícia Ferreira reflects on New York City and Indigenous representation in dioramas at the American Museum of Natural History. This film is part of the collected DVD
North America Archival material / Museum displays Colonialism / Postcolonialism Indigenous peoples / First Nation peoples Race / Racism / Antiracism
[oink--Film-image]
Oink! 2020 22'
  Directed by Rob Eagle .
An experimental research documentary offering a portrait of gay men who‚ in different ways‚ relate to the “pig” sexual imaginary. It provides insight into their experiences of identity,
Western Europe North America Sex / Sexuality LGBTQI* Collective / Community identity
[polka--Film-image]
Polka 1986 50'
  Directed by Robert Boonzajer-Flaes .
The film confronts the accordion music of Chicano immigrants in southern Texas with the traditional music of accordion players in Austria. Without making any final judgements on the ‘roots’ of
North America Music / Ethnomusicology Collective / Community identity
[sacred-harp-singers--Film-image]
Sacred Harp Singers 1984 85'
    Directed by Mark Brice .
A moving portrait of harp singers Leonard and Mazine Lacy. Sacred harp music is a kind of harmonised plainsong practised in rural America. This film was shot in Sand Mountain, Alabama, and is
North America Music / Ethnomusicology Rural
[sermiligaag-6554n-3622w--Film-image]
Sermiligaag 65°54'N, 36°22'W 2008 64'
    Directed by Anni Seitz Sophie Elixhauser .
The people of East Greenland inhabit a small string of coastal land at the edge of the biggest island of the world. Long winters have always shaped daily life here, a life that has gone within a few
North America Rural Social Change Environment
[a-sheepherders-homecoming--Film-image]
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
[spring-in-dickinsons-reach--Film-image]
Spring in Dickinson’s Reach 2013 83'
  Directed by Anna Grimshaw .
"Spring in Dickinson’s Reach" provides an introduction to the unique environment that Bill Coperthwaite has crafted in the Maine forest. Beginning in early spring, the film follows
North America Alternative culture Rural Everyday Life Art / Artists / Artisans
[a-summer-task--Film-image]
A Summer Task 2013 47'
  Directed by Anna Grimshaw .
"A Summer Task" examines the rhythm and tempo of work in the forest. The film follows Bill Coperthwaite and his cousin, Steve, as they fell and haul trees to build a bridge and begin
North America Alternative culture Everyday Life Rural Art / Artists / Artisans
[tablas-and-drum-machines-afghan-music-in-california--Film-image]
Tablas and Drum Machines: Afghan Music in California 2001 58'
    Directed by John Baily .
Ethnomusicologist John Baily visits Fremont, California, the new home of the large community of exiled Afghans. He is joined by Kabuli master-musician, Ustad Asif Mahmoud, who plans to open a small
North America Music / Ethnomusicology Education / Knowledge transmission Refugees / Displaced populations
[tuktu--Film-image]
Tuktu 1985 47'
  Directed by Graham Johnston .
Tuktu is the Kuvanmiit Eskimo word for caribou. The film traces the early evolution of Ambler, founded almost 30 years ago on the Kobuk River in Alaska. Change and development mark life now in this
North America Animals Social Change
[winter-days--Film-image]
Winter Days 2013 59'
  Directed by Anna Grimshaw .
"Winter Days" evokes the stillness and quietness of the forest in winter. Life is lived close to the stove. It’s a time for small tasks and chores – making a wedge, sewing a pocket, the
North America Alternative culture Rural Everyday Life Art / Artists / Artisans
[the-smokehouse--Film-image]
The smokehouse 81'
  Directed by Anna Grimshaw .
George has been smoking fish for as long as he can remember. The smokehouse has a place of pride in his dooryard, and he lovingly tends the racks to ensure perfection. The end of fishing is in
North America Hunting/Gathering/Fishing Trade