Film list

[abraham-and-sarah-creators-of-a-productive-landscape--Film-image]
Abraham and Sarah. Creators of a productive landscape. 2017 53'
  Directed by Ivo Strecker .
In the highlands of Tigray - northern Ethiopia - on the edge of the escarpment that descends steeply to the Danakil dessert, Hagos Mashisho and Desta Gidey have toiled and struggled for years to turn
North and Northeast Africa Rural Agriculture / Farming
[the-albanians-of-rrogam--Film-image]
The Albanians of Rrogam 1991 52'
    Directed by David Wason .
With the fall of the Stalinist regime in Albania, one of the poorest countries in Europe, the people of a remote mountain village, Rrogam, are faced with the dilmma of how to re-allocate the land and
South-East Europe Post-communism Social Change Land Rights Rural
[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
[bang-the-drum--Film-image]
Bang the Drum 2020 28'
  Directed by William Nitzky .
For the Yao minority in rural southwest China, the bronze drum is a sacred heritage. Its sound aids the souls of deceased elders in reaching the ancestral land. When the Chinese government steps in
Central Asia and Far East Music/ Ethnomusicology Tourism/ Travel/ Pilgrimage Rural Shamans and Shamanism
[the-basques-of-santazi--Film-image]
The Basques of Santazi 1987 52'
    Directed by Leslie Woodhead .
*In her book 'The Circle of Mountains' Sandra Ott provided a fascinating analysis of social reciprocity (...) The film highlights the village's contemporary dilemmas and thereby complements rather
Western Europe Herding Social Change Rural
[the-bracewells--Film-image]
The Bracewells 2000 49'
    Directed by Amanda Ravetz .
In the late 1990s, when BSE (also known as "Mad Cow Disease") was conclusively linked to the fatal brain disorder vCJD, a number of British farmers went out of business whilst others faced
British-Irish Isles Rural Agriculture / Farming Animals
[the-carrot-and-the-stick--Film-image]
The Carrot and the Stick 1988 44'
    Directed by Susi Arnott .
When they retired from selling insurance and teaching, John and Irene Brown volunteered to work overseas under a British Aid programme. They were sent to expand a marketing project aimed at
Melanesia Development projects Agriculture / Farming Rural
[the-dream-of-maelen--Film-image]
The Dream of Maelen 2003 25'
    Directed by Eirik Sandberg .
Arne Bakke Mælen lives alone on the small family farm he inherited on the edge of a fjord. The farm is no longer viable economically and, like many small farmers in Norway, he has not found a woman
Scandinavia Art / Artists / Artisans Rural Agriculture / Farming
[enet-yapai-an-ambonwari-girl--Film-image]
Enet Yapai - an Ambonwari Girl 2008 25'
    Directed by Daniela Vávrová .
Enet Yapai was six years old when Vavrova met her for the first time in 2005 in Ambonwari village, East Sepik Province, Papua New Guinea. Between November 2007 and April 2008 she followed Enet and
Melanesia Children / Young people Rural Everyday Life
[fatuma-and-asya-two-afar-girls-in-ethiopia--Film-image]
Fatuma and Asya. Two Afar Girls in Ethiopia 2014 59'
    Directed by Francesco Sincich .
Two young Afar girls, Fatuma (10) and Asya (13), show us their daily life in two different contexts of the Afar Region in Ethiopia. Both of them face hard challenges: finding an alternative way to
West Africa Gender Role and Identity Marriage Children / Young people Rural
[the-golden-beach--Film-image]
The Golden Beach 2008 58'
    Directed by Hasse Wester .
A small group of farmers belonging to the Halakki Gowda tribe live near a small beach in a valley in southern India. When the Swedish film maker Hasse Wester was first there twenty years ago the
South Asia Tourism / Travel / Pilgrimage Rural Social Change
[heart-of-the-village--Film-image]
Heart of the Village 1985 52'
  Directed by Toni de Bromhead .
The second film of the Caught in the Web trilogy, which compares and contrast aspects of life in a Dorset community in the Bride Valley and a French village in Provence, Villes-sur-Auzon,
Western Europe British-Irish Isles Rural Socioeconomic conditions
[lady-of-the-lake--Film-image]
Lady of the Lake 2014 22'
    Directed by Zaw Naing Oo .
Governments – even decades-old military regimes – may come and go but, like many rural communities in Myanmar (formerly known as Burma), the lives of the villagers of Pyun Su on the banks of Moe
South-East Asia Religion / Belief / Faith Rural
[the-land-on-which-we-stand--Film-image]
The Land on which We Stand 2007 31'
    Directed by Becky Payne .
This film is a glimpse into the life of the Landmatters Co-operative, a community of 11 adults and 4 children living in benders and yurts in rural Devon as they develop a permaculture project. The 42
British-Irish Isles Rural Alternative culture
[life-chances-four-families-in-a-greek-cypriot-village--Film-image]
Life Chances: Four Families in a Greek Cypriot Village 1974 43'
    Directed by Peter Loizos .
A careful account of social change in a prosperous Greek Cypriot village, which follows four closely related families before the Turkish made them all refugees. Their lives reflect the possibilities
South-East Europe Social Change Life Story / Life History Rural Family / Kinship
[the-light-on-mykines-island--Film-image]
The Light on Mykines Island 1992 66'
    Directed by Ulla Rasmussen .
Ulla Boje Rasmussen's at once historical and contemporary documentary from 1992 about the life and nature of the sparsely populated and spellbound island of Mykines. With outstanding footage she
Scandinavia Everyday Life Social Organisation Rural
[the-log-rafters-of-lake-aegeri--Film-image]
The Log Rafters of Lake Aegeri 2016 29'
    Material Culture Directed by Thomas Horat .
Aegeri, in a remote part of Switzerland, is one of the few lakes in Central Europe where professional log rafters can still be found. This film is based on the gentle observation of the work of a
Western Europe Material Culture Labour Rural
[the-mende--Film-image]
The Mende 1990 52'
    Directed by Bruce MacDonald .
This is a portrait of Kpuawala, Sierra Leone, a village of some 260 Mende people living in a clearing in the forest in houses of mud brick and tin. Like any village portrait it gossips, happy
West Africa Everyday Life Social Organisation Rural
[the-meo--Film-image]
The Meo 1972 52'
    Directed by Brian Moser Chris Curling .
Over the last three thousand years the Meo (Miao or Hmong) have migrated south from north and central China to avoid oppression and protect their way of life. Today they live in scattered mountain
South-East Asia War / Conflict / Reconciliation Shamans and Shamanism Ritual Social Organisation Rural
[mongolia-part-1-on-the-edge-of-the-gobi--Film-image]
Mongolia, part 1: On the Edge of the Gobi 1975 52'
    Directed by Brian Moser .
Mongolia is a country the size of Western Europe with under 1.5 million people but over 23 million head of livestock. This film concentrates on life in the great plains of Mongolia, at the foot of
Central Asia and Far East Herding Social Change Rural Everyday Life
[ocak--Film-image]
Ocak 2020 28'
  Directed by Zeynep Kaserci .
The story of a family who earns their livelihood as hazelnut cultivators in rural north-eastern Turkey. Filmed in an observational style, it offers glimpses into the local social life of the village
Middle and Near East Collective / Community identity Agriculture / Farming Rural
[the-orchard-keepers--Film-image]
The Orchard Keepers 2014 24'
  Directed by Bryony Dunne .
Against the backdrop of political upheaval, an ancient network of orchards thrives in the mountains of the Sinai desert. Filmmaker Bryony Dunne shadows two Bedouins as they nurture their gardens and
North and Northeast Africa Environment Archaeobotany / Ethnobotany Rural
[paani-of-women-and-water--Film-image]
Paani: of women and water 2018 22'
    Student Directed by Costanza Burstin .
Against the bleached sky of Rajasthan, we encounter the women of a small Muslim village as they engage in their work. Here, water binds their daily labour rituals: they collect and carry water in
South Asia Environment Food / Water Gender Role and Identity Rural Everyday Life
[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
[seed-and-earth--Film-image]
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
[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
[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
[sunny-and-the-dark-horse--Film-image]
Sunny and the Dark Horse 1986 86'
  Directed by David MacDougall Judith MacDougall .
A true story of a country family’s gradual involvement and growing passion for ‘picnic racing’. Sunny Bancroft is an Aboriginal cattle-station manager in New South Wales. With his
Australia Rural Indigenous peoples / First Nations peoples Animals
[suspension--Film-image]
Suspension 2019 73'
    Werbner Award Directed by Simón Uribe .
This film documents the building of a modern road through the imposing geography of southern Colombia. It brilliantly captures some of the absurdities and contradictions of a construction project
South America Development projects Infrastructure / Transport Material Culture Rural
[talking-to-each-other--Film-image]
Talking to Each Other 1985 52'
  Directed by Toni de Bromhead .
The third film of the **Caught in the Web** trilogy, which compares and contrast aspects of life in a Dorset community in the Bride Valley and a French village in Provence, Villes-sur-Auzon,
Western Europe British-Irish Isles Rural Socioeconomic conditions
[taras-footprint--Film-image]
Tara's footprint 2018 70'
    Intangible Culture Directed by Georgina Barreiro .
Tara's Footprint skilfully conjures the atmosphere of Khechuperi, a village in the Himalayas in north eastern India. Eschewing standard exposition the film follows four young siblings as they go
South Asia Children / Young people Dance / Theatre / Performance Everyday Life Music / Ethnomusicology Religion / Belief / Faith Rural
[tempus-de-baristas--Film-image]
Tempus de Baristas 1993 100'
  Directed by David MacDougall .
This film depicts the characters, and social dilemmas of three generations of Sardinian mountain shepherds. Although born roughly 20 years apart, Franchiscu (62), his son Pietro (17) and their
Western Europe Herding Social Change Family / Kinship Rural
[uma-a-water-crisis-in-bolivia--Film-image]
Uma: a water crisis in Bolivia 2020 76'
  Directed by Ana 𝗟𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲𝗿 .
Uma: a water crisis in Bolivia tells the story of three Andean indigenous communities in the highlands of Bolivia who are fighting to protect their water from diversion and contamination amid a
South America Environment Food / Water Gender Role and Identity Indigenous peoples / First Nations peoples Land Rights Political Activists Resistance Rural Social Conflict
[a-village-heritage--Film-image]
A Village Heritage 1985 52'
  Directed by Toni de Bromhead .
The first of the **Caught in the Web** trilogy, which compares and contrast aspects of life in a Dorset community in the Bride Valley and a French village in Provence, Villes-sur-Auzon, Vauclause.
Western Europe British-Irish Isles Socioeconomic conditions Rural
[the-villagers-of-sierra-de-gredos--Film-image]
The Villagers of Sierra de Gredos 1989 52'
    Directed by Peter Carr .
The 130 villagers of Navalguijo in the Sierra de Gredos of Central Spain live in a village perched high in the mountains and they face an extreme climate with very cold winters and hot summers. The
Western Mediterranean Herding Rural Collective / Community identity
[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