Films - RAI FILM

RAI FILM

Film list

[journey-into-europe--Film-image]

Journey into Europe 2015 122‘

Directed by Akbar Ahmed .

In Journey into Europe, Akbar Ahmed, a world-renowned anthropologist, Islamic scholar, and filmmaker who the BBC has called “the world’s leading authority on contemporary Islam,” explores Islam

Central Europe Western Europe South-East Europe History Religion / Belief / Faith Collective / Community identity

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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

[returning-home-revival-of-a-bosnian-village--Film-image]

Returning Home: Revival of a Bosnian Village 2001 48‘

Directed by Tone Bringa Peter Loizos .

The film is the sequel to ‘We are all Neighbours’, the 1993 Granada Disappearing World film, about the breakdown of relations between Muslims and Croats as war overtakes their ethnically mixed

South-East Europe War / Conflict / Reconciliation Collective / Community identity Refugees / Displaced populations

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The Shilluk of Southern Sudan 1976 52‘

Directed by Chris Curling .

This film presents a compelling visual and aural analysis of Shilluk kingship in 1975, and provides a very useful complement to Evans-Pritchard’s 1948 text, The Divine Kingship of the Shilluk.

North and Northeast Africa Collective / Community identity Social Organisation

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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

[the-kazakhs-of-china--Film-image]

The Kazakhs of China 1983 52‘

Directed by André Singer .

The Kazakhs of Xinjiang (Sinkiang) are one of the fifty-five national minorities that now live within the borders of the People’s Republic of China. The policy of the Chinese Communist Party toward

Central Asia and Far East Social Change Nomads and Nomadism Collective / Community identity

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Scenes of Afghan Music: London, Kabul, Hamburg, Dublin 2007 97‘

Directed by John Baily .

Scenes of Afghan Music is Part IV of ‘A Quartet of Afghan Music Films’, made in the author’s personal “fieldwork movie” style. It reveals the diversity of music and dance practices in the

Middle and Near East Music / Ethnomusicology Migration Collective / Community identity

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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

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Keepers of the Faith: The Buddhist Nuns of Sagaing Hills 1996 51‘

Directed by Hiroko Kawanami .

In the Sagaing Hills, 12 miles from the ancient capital of Mandalay are hundreds of pagodas, stupas, monasteries and nunneries which form a focal point of worship for Buddhism in Burma. In 1986 the

South-East Asia Religion / Belief / Faith Collective / Community identity Gender Role and Identity

[war-of-the-gods--Film-image]

War of the Gods 1971 52‘

Directed by Brian Moser .

While relying on a polemical stance directed against the cultural genocide wrought by missionaries, ‘War of the Gods’ also contains a wealth of information and detail about Amazonian Indian

South America Religion / Belief / Faith Collective / Community identity Agriculture / Farming Hunting / Gathering / Fishing

[making-worlds-otherwise--Film-image]

Making Worlds Otherwise 2020 28‘

Directed by Paul Gurrumuruwuy Jennifer Deger Enid Guruŋulmiwuy Warren Balpatji Meredith Balanydjarrk James Ganambarr Kayleen Djingadjingawuy Victoria Baskin Coffey Sebastian Lowe .

An exuberant experiment in the ethnographic art of remix that gives new form to Miyarrka Media’s project of yuṯa, or new, anthropology. Sound, images, colour, light, and deeply felt patterns of

Australia Collective / Community identity Colonialism / Postcolonialism Internet Digital media Participatory / Collaborative methods

[unity-through-culture--Film-image]

Unity through Culture 2011 69‘

Directed by Christian Suhr Ton Otto .

Soanin Killangit is determined to unite the people and attract international tourism through the revival of culture on Baluan Island, Manus, Papua New Guinea in the South Pacific. He organizes the

Melanesia Festivals / Carnival Social Conflict Collective / Community identity

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Why is Mr W. Laughing? 2017 76‘

Directed by Jana Papenbrook .

Jana Papenbroock with Horst Wässle, Michael Gerdsmann, Bernhard Krebs WHY IS MR W. LAUGHING? is a portrait of three members of a community of artists with different disabilities. Rather than

Western Europe Art / Artists / Artisans Collective / Community identity Elderly people Health / Health care / Healing Life Story / Life History Personal Narrative Social participation

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The Migrants 1985 52‘

Directed by Leslie Woodhead David Wason .

The Migrants is the third film in the trilogy ‘In Search of Cool Ground’ for Granada Television’s Disappearing World series. It is about a drought-induced migration of Mursi from their traditional

North and Northeast Africa Social Change Collective / Community identity Refugees / Displaced populations

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The Kwegu 1979 52‘

Directed by Leslie Woodhead Andy Harries .

*’The Kwegu’ is an entirely tasteful and dignified presentation of the harsh realities of subsistence living, and it may help us understand how, even in stateless societies, dominated groups come to

North and Northeast Africa Collective / Community identity Agriculture / Farming Social Organisation Marriage Trade

[we-are-all-neighbours--Film-image]

We Are All Neighbours 1993 52‘

Directed by Debbie Christie .

The film shows the effect of war on families in a racially mixed village outside Sarajevo, Bosnia, where Bosnian Croats and Bosnian Moslems lived peacefully together. Norwegian anthropologist Tone

South-East Europe War / Conflict / Reconciliation Collective / Community identity Inter-religious relations

[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

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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

[tabom-in-bahia--Film-image]

Tabom in Bahia 2017 52‘

Directed by Juan Diego Diaz Nilton Pereira .

There is a small community in Ghana who identify as Brazilians. Their name is the Tabom. They are the descendants of former enslaved Africans and creoles who resettled from Bahia to Ghana during the

South America West Africa Music / Ethnomusicology Collective / Community identity Memory Migration Popular Culture Race / Racism / Antiracism Tourism / Travel / Pilgrimage

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Native 2002 29‘

Directed by Rachel Greenwood .

Through his clothing, a young South African fashion designer of mixed race urges freedom and unity in post-apartheid South Africa. His message is reaching not only his fellow South Africans, but also

Southern Africa Collective / Community identity Material Culture

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Together as One 2013 39‘

Directed by Kilian Lamtur Tanlaka .

Nso’ is the biggest kingdom of the Western Grassfields and an ethnic group in the northeast corner of Cameroon’s northwest region. Its capital Kumbo is where the ruler (Fon) lives. The Nso’

Central Africa Archaeobotany / Ethnobotany Collective / Community identity Inter-religious relations

[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

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Steel Lives 2005 45‘

Directed by Massimiliano Mollona .

The anthropologist spent several months working as unskilled labourer alongside Sheffield steelworkers at Morris for his PhD. This film is a look into the working lives of men who earn a living in

British-Irish Isles Labour Socioeconomic conditions Collective / Community identity

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Namatjira Project 2017 87‘

Directed by Sera Davies .

An extraordinary first-hand account of the international battle to reclaim the artwork and heritage of one of Australia’s most important Indigenous figures: Albert Namatjira. Albert Namatjira was

Australia Art / Artists / Artisans Collective / Community identity Colonialism / Postcolonialism Indigenous peoples / First Nations peoples Law and Legislation / Bureaucracy Political Activists Race / Racism / Antiracism

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The Sakuddei 1974 52‘

Directed by John Sheppard .

The Sakuddei are a small and ethnically separate community living on the island of Siberut off the west coast of Sumatra in Indonesia. Their distinctive way of life and elaborate religious

South-East Asia Collective / Community identity Social Change Land Rights

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Round Trip 1999 36‘

Directed by Angela Torresan .

Portrait of a Brazilian woman and her friends, now living in Lisbon, exploring the basis of their sense of identity in the context of a transnational way of life.

Western Mediterranean Collective / Community identity Migration

[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

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The New Boys 2003 100‘

Directed by David MacDougall .

The social dynamics of the group is the focus of this study of life in Foot House, one of Doon School’s dormitories for new boys. It begins a few days before the boys appear and shows them

South Asia Children / Young people Education / Knowledge Transmission Collective / Community identity

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Yukaghir Stories 1997 30‘

Directed by Rane Willerslev .

The Yukhagirs are one of the small indigenous peoples of Northern Siberia. This film, shot in the village of Nelemnoye, explores what it means to be a Yukhagir.

Central Asia and Far East Indigenous peoples / First Nations peoples Collective / Community identity

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[S+P2] 2010 30‘

Directed by Yasmin Samir-Shakir .

Following various members of The Forest Collective in the run-up to the ‘DIY’ arts space’s Tenth Birthday celebrations, we observe some of the internal and external struggles faced by this

British-Irish Isles Alternative culture Collective / Community identity

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Treasured Moments 2016 33‘

Student Directed by Ravi Hart Lloyd .

This is the personal story of a boy who grew up mixed in every aspect of his life, his parents, where he was from, his race. The black kid who thought that he was white. The white kid who thought

Caribbean Islands North America Family / Kinship Race / Racism / Antiracism Collective / Community identity Film / Photography / Mass media

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Nuba Wrestling 1991 42‘

Directed by Rolf Husmann Werner Sperschneider .

The weekly wrestling tournaments of the Sudanese Nuba migrants in Khartoum usually take place between Northern and Southern Nuba men. The sport helps them strengthen their ethnic identity in a

North and Northeast Africa Collective / Community identity Gender Role and Identity Urban Sport

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The Mehinacu 1974 52‘

Directed by Carlos Pasini .

The Mehinacu live near the head-waters of the River Xingu in Central Brazil, in a single village within the protective confines of the Xingu National Park. Although the film concentrates upon the

South America Social Organisation Indigenous peoples / First Nations peoples Collective / Community identity Ritual

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Youth Group 2015 28‘

Student Directed by Wanwan Lu .

Set in the predominantly Asian “ethnoburbs” of Los Angeles County, this film follows a vibrant Buddhist youth group in a Chinese-American temple. Youth group members, most raised by immigrant

North America Collective / Community identity Religion / Belief / Faith Intergenerational relations

[orania--Film-image]

Orania 2012 94‘

Directed by Tobias Lindner .

Orania is situated in South Africa’s barren Northern Cape province. All of its 800 inhabitants are white Afrikaners. They live here on private property which was bought in 1991. People of other

Southern Africa Race / Racism / Antiracism Collective / Community identity Social Conflict

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Without Fathers or Husbands 1995 26‘

Directed by Hua Cai .

The Na are an ethnic group in south-east China. Their particularity is that all the members of each household are consanguineous relatives; their social organisation is absolutely matrilineal and as

South-East Asia Family / Kinship Collective / Community identity Gender Role and Identity Sex / Sexuality

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Koriams Law and the Dead who Govern 2005 110‘

Directed by Gary Kildea Andrea Simon .

In ‘Koriam’s Law’ Australian anthropologist Andrew Lattas meets his match in philosopher-informant Peter Avarea of Matong village, Pomio, Papua New Guinea. Motivated by their lively dialogue the

Melanesia Religion / Belief / Faith Collective / Community identity Possession

[they-say-were-all-winners--Film-image]

They Say We’re All Winners 2002 32‘

Directed by Mari Finnestad .

The Zimbabwean girls’ team comes to Norway to take part in the world’s largest kids’ football tournament. The film questions the outcome of this well-intentioned cultural exchange because some of the

Scandinavia Tourism / Travel / Pilgrimage Sport Collective / Community identity

[where-the-clouds-end--Film-image]

Where the Clouds End 2014 52‘

Directed by Wanphrang Diengdoh .

“My late great grandfather was a Bengali who came to Shillong in the early 1900s – long before the present political border divided the lands.” After the creation of borders between India and

South Asia Colonialism / Postcolonialism Race / Racism / Antiracism Collective / Community identity

[a-kali-temple-inside-out--Film-image]

A Kali Temple Inside Out 2018 83‘

Werbner Award Directed by Dipesh Kharel Frode Storaas .

Religious boundaries in India are not necessarily as sharp and antagonistic as news media lead us to believe. This film portrays everyday life inside and around a Kali temple in the city of Kanpur,

South Asia Religion / Belief / Faith Collective / Community identity

[link-up-diary--Film-image]

Link-up Diary 1997 86‘

Directed by David MacDougall .

The filmmaker goes on the road with Link-Up, an organisation which re-unites Aboriginal families separated in earlier decades by the New South Wales government. As the film shows, being reunited

Australia Resettlement Family / Kinship Collective / Community identity Indigenous peoples / First Nations peoples