Films - RAI FILM

RAI FILM

Film list

[the-bear-chase--Film-image]

The Bear Chase 2009 7‘

Directed by Michele Trentini .

In the Catalan-speaking southern France, a proper “Bear Chase”, of the kind that was once popular throughout Europe, has been revived in a carnival context. This film is part of **Carnival

Western Europe Festivals / Carnival Folklore

[once-upon-a-time-in-val-di-fiemme--Film-image]

Once upon a time in Val di Fiemme 2009 23‘

Directed by Michele Trentini .

Every four years, the new recruits in Carano are presented to the community in the midst of a complex carnival ritual called Banderàl. This film is part of **Carnival King of Europe DVD 6 –

South-East Europe Folklore Festivals / Carnival

[the-secret-of-the-stone--Film-image]

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

[the-professional-foreigner--Film-image]

The Professional Foreigner 2009 60‘

Directed by Rolf Husmann .

Asen Balikci has been a leading figure in making ethnographic films for many decades. In a series of talks between Balikci and filmmaker Rolf Husmann in different locations, the life and work of Asen

Various Film / Photography / Mass media History of Anthropology Public Figure

[vasile-nedea--Film-image]

Vasile Nedea 2009 43‘

Directed by Sjoerd van Grootheest .

The film tells the story of Vasile Nedea, a Romanian gypsy musician an Amsterdam. Due to his former illegal status there have been times in which he was forced to show his skills whilst busking the

Western Europe Travellers / Roma Music / Ethnomusicology

[men-of-words--Film-image]

Men of Words 2009 22‘

Directed by Johanne Haaber Ihle .

The film explores how ancient traditions of poetry are still used in contemporary Yemen to discuss social and political problems.

Middle and Near East Art / Artists / Artisans Socioeconomic conditions

[in-pursuit-of-happiness--Film-image]

In Pursuit of Happiness 2009 31‘

Directed by Ray Ono .

Tokyo life as rarely seen on mainstream media. This short film takes you to the lives of men who live on the outskirts of the city and of Japanese society.

Central Asia and Far East Alternative culture Urban Squatter Settlements / Homelessness

[part-of-us--Film-image]

Part of Us 2009 27‘

Directed by Maria Meriwether .

For the Ngarrindjeri people, the living and the dead are connected through shared land and heritage. The preservation of this connection is at the heart of the community’s effort to repatriate the

Australia Death Indigenous peoples / First Nations peoples

[je-ne-suis-pas-moi-meme--Film-image]

Je ne suis pas moi-même 2009 50‘

Directed by Alba Mora Anna Sanmartí .

Shot in Cameroon and Brussels, ‘Je ne suis pas moi-même’ examines the complex network surrounding the international market of African antiquities, and the contradictions in a European art market

Central Africa Western Europe Art / Artists / Artisans Trade

[making-it-big-in-berlin--Film-image]

Making it Big in Berlin 2009 24‘

Directed by Claudia Goldberg .

In Berlin, where low rents and space for creative ideas are still available, self-employed workers live the alternative to a nine-to-five-job. A sewing café owner, a freelance journalist and two

Western Europe Alternative culture Art / Artists / Artisans

[breeding-cells--Film-image]

Breeding Cells 2009 39‘

Directed by Anna Straube .

Breeding Cells is a film about a reproductive laboratory. A fertility clinic is a place where human reproduction is separated from sex and anatomized into bio/technological components. There

Western Europe Reproduction (biology) Science / Technology

[vendemos-recuerdos--Film-image]

Vendemos Recuerdos 2009 25‘

Directed by Carolina Corral Paredes .

Carlos is an enthusiastic tour guide and Doña Rosa is an indigenous old woman that sells crafts in the market. Both of their life’s works are an effort to provide what inquisitive tourists might

Central America Tourism / Travel / Pilgrimage Trade

[only-thinking--Film-image]

Only Thinking 2009 27‘

Directed by Gabriel Merrun .

On the North African coast in Ceuta, illegal migrants wait and hope to eventually continue onto the Spanish peninsula where they can attain asylum. Whilst waiting there, they are caught bewteen the borders.

North and Northeast Africa Migration

[barah-pal--Film-image]

Barah Pal 2009 30‘

Directed by Jennifer Rosen .

12 castes of gypsy artists ended their nomadic ways nearly 45 years ago to squat in New Delhi. Now the slum is being dismantled and rehabilitated. These are their last months in the colony as they

South Asia Refugees / Displaced populations Squatter Settlements / Homelessness Travellers / Roma Urban

[drugs-prayers--Film-image]

Drugs & Prayers 2009 55‘

Directed by Helene Basu .

The Sufi shrine of Mira Datar in North Gujarat is a large pilgrimage centre specialising in healing possession and mental illness. It has become a site of experimenting with new forms of community

South Asia Health / Health care / Healing Ritual Religion / Belief / Faith

[marriage-maoism-and-modernity--Film-image]

Marriage, Maoism and Modernity 2009 30‘

Directed by Zhifang Song Gary Seaman Steven Rousso-Schindler .

This film outlines the types of marriage exchange practiced in a Chinese village over the last fifty years. Dowry, brideprice and exchange marriages have dominated the marriage market in turn as

Central Asia and Far East Marriage History Social Change

[song-family-village-takes-a-bride--Film-image]

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

[uncanny-strangers--Film-image]

Uncanny Strangers 2009 46‘

Directed by David Picard .

Uncanny Strangers has been filmed in a fishing village in the South-West of Madagascar. Through a series of everyday life episodes the film provides insight into the relationships between the

East Africa Tourism / Travel / Pilgrimage Development projects Environment

[a-two-day-fair--Film-image]

A Two Day Fair 2009 60‘

Directed by Anjali Monteiro KP Jayasankar .

Nothing in the world will last – it is but a two day fair” sings Mura Lala, drawing inspiration from the Sufi traditions of Sant Kabir and Abdul Lateef Bhitai. He is accompanied on the double

[earning-a-crust--Film-image]

Earning a Crust 2009 28‘

Directed by Elisa Contreras .

Through their experiences, Uncle Isidro (a horse dealer) and Jeremo (a scrap collector) illustrate traditional gypsy occupations in the south of Spain, as well as the obstacles facing their

Western Mediterranean Travellers / Roma Labour

[holy-hustlers--Film-image]

Holy Hustlers 2009 53‘

Directed by Richard Werbner .

Charismatic, street-wise young men, living in Botswana’s capital, command the prophetic domain in Eloyi, their Apostolic faith-healing church, at a time of escalating crisis. Bitter, sinful

Southern Africa Religion / Belief / Faith Urban Possession

[casados-legacy--Film-image]

Casado’s Legacy 2009 49‘

Directed by Valentina Bonifacio .

For 100 years Maskoy people worked in Carlos Casado’s tannin factory. The factory, which had been founded on their land, based its production on the exploitation of local natural resources. After

South America Political Activists Labour Land Rights

[the-heavenly-court-in-song-family-village--Film-image]

The Heavenly Court in Song Family Village 2009 30‘

Directed by Zhifang Song Gary Seaman Steven Rousso-Schindler .

Religious life in the village is highly gendered, with female shamans dominating most religious activities. These shamanesses and their gods are organised as a “court”, which expresses a

Central Asia and Far East Gender Role and Identity Shamans and Shamanism Ritual

[sifinja-the-iron-bride--Film-image]

Sifinja – The Iron Bride 2009 70‘

Directed by Valerie Haensch .

A film about mobility, human creativity, and technology in a Sudanese truck community. The English Bedford-Lorry was introduced to Sudan in the late 1960s. Since then, local craftsmen technically

North and Northeast Africa Infrastructure / Transport Material Culture Art / Artists / Artisans