Films - RAI FILM

RAI FILM

Film list

[asante-market-women--Film-image]

Asante Market Women 1982 52‘

Directed by Claudia Milne .

As retailers, wholesalers, and negotiators, Asante women of Ghana dominate the huge Kumasi Central Market amid the laughter, argument, colour and music. The crew of this Disappearing World film have

West Africa Marriage Trade Gender Role and Identity

[bailarinas--Film-image]

Bailarinas 2003 32‘

Directed by Heidi Lipsanen .

Majê Molê is an Afro-Brazilian dance group which offers girls and young women in Olinda, Northeast Brazil, the opportunity to rise above the poverty, drug addiction and crime that scars their

South America Dance / Theatre / Performance Gender Role and Identity Children / Young people

[breaking-the-yard--Film-image]

Breaking the Yard 2018 21‘

Directed by Richard Werbner .

"Breaking-the-Yard" documents the court hearings and troubled affairs of a quarrelsome young couple, a stay-at-home farmer and his police constable, town-savvy wife. They claim to be still

Southern Africa Family / Kinship Gender Role and Identity Law and Legislation / Bureaucracy Love Marriage

[caught-in-between--Film-image]

Caught in Between 2016 56‘

Directed by Richard Werbner .

The focus is on a leading village elder, John Lelatlhego, a retired Human Resources administrator trained in settling disputes in the South African mines. John gets entangled in the long troubled

Southern Africa Family / Kinship Gender Role and Identity Law and Legislation / Bureaucracy Love Marriage

[the-day-i-will-never-forget--Film-image]

The Day I Will Never Forget 2002 92‘

Directed by Kim Longinotto .

The documentary explores the local dimensions of the female circumcision debate in Kenyan societies. In a region of Kenya that is home to Muslims, Massai and Somali and crosscut by Christian

East Africa Gender Role and Identity Ritual Law and Legislation / Bureaucracy Political Activists

[divorce-iranian-style--Film-image]

Divorce Iranian Style 1989 80‘

Directed by Kim Longinotto .

This film is set in the Family Law Courts in central Tehran. The three main characters are Jamileh who punishes her husband for beating her, Ziba, a 16 year old girl who is trying to get a divorce

Middle and Near East Marriage Gender Role and Identity Law and Legislation / Bureaucracy Family / Kinship

[dream-girls--Film-image]

Dream Girls 1993 50‘

Directed by Kim Longinotto Jano Williams .

This award-winning film opens a door into the amazing world of the Takarazuka Revue, the all-female theatre troupe in Japan. Thousands of young women aspire to perform in the Revue’s glitzy musical

Central Asia and Far East Public Figure Popular Culture Dance / Theatre / Performance Gender Role and Identity

[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

[eat-the-kimono--Film-image]

Eat the Kimono 1989 60‘

Directed by Kim Longinotto Claire Hunt .

A compelling biography of Hanayagi Genshu, a feminist and dancer who spent her lifetime defying the conservative traditions of Japanese society with her radical politics and unconventional

Central Asia and Far East Public Figure Gender Role and Identity Art / Artists / Artisans Dance / Theatre / Performance Alternative culture

[every-good-marriage-begins-with-tears--Film-image]

Every Good Marriage Begins With Tears 2007 63‘

Directed by Simon Chambers .

East London Muslim girl Shahanara is changing form pink hot pants into a sari to meet her husband at the airport. She has only met him once before, when she was married in a union arranged by her

London Family / Kinship Gender Role and Identity Marriage Intergenerational relations Social Norms

[fatmawatis-wedding-the-weddings-of-two-sisters-the-preparations--Film-image]

Fatmawati’s Wedding: the Weddings of two Sisters, the Preparations 1998 50‘

Directed by Fiona Kerlogue .

This film records the preparations for the wedding of two sisters in eastern Sumatra in December 1996. There is an emphasis on the importance of the role of women in the village. Ritual exchanges

South-East Asia Gender Role and Identity Marriage Ritual Material Culture

[gaea-girls--Film-image]

Gaea Girls 2000 106‘

Directed by Kim Longinotto Jano Williams .

A film about courage, transformation and dreams in the extraordinary world of Japanese women’s wrestling. Gaea Girls focuses on the hopes and fears of the beleaguered Gaea Japan squad, whose

Central Asia and Far East Gender Role and Identity Sport

[gelede-a-yoruba-masquerade--Film-image]

Gelede: A Yoruba Masquerade 1970 30‘

Directed by Frank Speed Peggy Harper .

Among the Yoruba of Western Nigeria and Dahomey the Gelede cult honours the earth spirits, the ancestors and especially the Great Mother. The festival filmed here emphasises the status of women and

West Africa Gender Role and Identity Ritual Festivals / Carnival Social Conflict

[the-good-wife-of-tokyo--Film-image]

The Good Wife of Tokyo 1992 52‘

Directed by Kim Longinotto Clare Hunt .

Kazuko Hohki goes back to Tokyo with her band, the ‘Frank Chickens’, after living in England for 15 years. This wry and delightful film records her re-experiencing of Japan after a long absence,

Central Asia and Far East Music / Ethnomusicology Gender Role and Identity Marriage Social Change

[harpoons-and-heartache--Film-image]

Harpoons and Heartache 1998 28‘

Directed by Bessie Morris .

Bessie Morris, a Greek-American, portrays the romantic relationships between Greek men and women tourists. She explores the story of Vassilis, a young male bartender in the tourist town of Hania, Crete.

South-East Europe Tourism / Travel / Pilgrimage Gender Role and Identity Love

[the-herders-of-mongun-taiga--Film-image]

The Herders of Mongun-Taiga 1989 52‘

Directed by John Sheppard .

The Tuvinians live deep inside the Soviet Union, at the very centre of Asia. Tuva is geographically closer to Peking than to Moscow. It only entered the USSR in 1944 and was closed to foreigners

Central Asia and Far East Herding Nomads and Nomadism Shamans and Shamanism Gender Role and Identity Social Change

[hidden-faces--Film-image]

Hidden Faces 1990 52‘

Directed by Kim Longinotto .

This film reveals contradictions in the lives of Egyptian women in Muslim society. Living abroad, Safaa Fathy returns to Egypt to interview the internationally renowned feminist writer Nawal El

North and Northeast Africa Gender Role and Identity Development projects

[hillside-beauties--Film-image]

Hillside Beauties 2008 25‘

Directed by Julia Kurc .

In a violent, marginalized and discriminated environment such as the favelas in Rio de Janeiro, women create a time and a space to construct their identities and their beauty. Marcella, Thuany and

South America Gender Role and Identity Socioeconomic conditions

[imbalu-ritual-of-manhood-of-the-gisu-of-uganda--Film-image]

Imbalu: Ritual of Manhood of the Gisu of Uganda 1988 69‘

Directed by Richard Hawkins .

An insightful documentary, constructed with visual restraint, about the male circumcision ritual among the Gisu of Uganda. The narrative follows one male participant through the ritual and contrasts

East Africa Ritual Gender Role and Identity

[keepers-of-the-faith-the-buddhist-nuns-of-sagaing-hills--Film-image]

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

[lessons-from-the-tiger--Film-image]

Lessons from the Tiger 2010 22‘

Directed by Ife Olatunji .

A brief glimpse into the Foundation Fior Di Loto girls’ school, this film explores the competing ideas of traditional and contemporary womanhood in Rajasthan, India. Four girls introduce us to the

South Asia Gender Role and Identity Children / Young people Education / Knowledge Transmission

[a-little-bit-of-freedom--Film-image]

A Little Bit of Freedom 1998 34‘

Directed by Laura Kirk .

This film is set in a traditional household in Nepal and documents a servant girl, Nani; a married woman, Sarita; and a mother-in-law, Ama. In interesting mixture of entrapment, duty and tradition unfold.

South Asia Gender Role and Identity Intergenerational relations Marriage

[masai-manhood--Film-image]

Masai Manhood 1975 52‘

Directed by Chris Curling .

This film was made after ‘Masai Women’ and in the same area. Together the two films provide a vivid view of Masai men and women and their place in Masai society. The Masai are pastoral nomads in

East Africa Gender Role and Identity Social Change Ritual Social Organisation Nomads and Nomadism Herding

[masai-women--Film-image]

Masai Women 1974 52‘

Directed by Chris Curling .

The Masai are cattle herders living in the East African rift valley: they grow no crops and are proud of being a non-agricultural people. Cattle are the all-important source of wealth and social

East Africa Gender Role and Identity Social Change Ritual Social Organisation Nomads and Nomadism Herding

[men-at-work--Film-image]

Men at Work 2010 32‘

Directed by Christine Moderbacher .

"Men at Work" depicts the daily working life of one of the few remaining institutions in Austria that still employs only men. They are responsible for a 39 km stretch of Austria’s biggest

Central Europe Gender Role and Identity Labour

[mirror-mirror--Film-image]

Mirror Mirror 2006 58‘

Directed by Zemirah Moffat .

Mirror Mirror is based on an audio-visual ethnography of London’s queer Club Wotever. Begun in the autumn of 2003, it promoted itself as a club that welcomed all genders and sexualities – a

British-Irish Isles LGBTQI* Sex / Sexuality Gender Role and Identity

[mursi-nitha--Film-image]

Mursi: Nitha 1991 52‘

Directed by Leslie Woodhead .

The proper time for a man to go through the Age Set Ceremony, the nitha, is just as he reaches physical maturity. But many years may elapse from one nitha to the next, so it is inevitable that some

North and Northeast Africa Ritual Social Conflict Gender Role and Identity

[the-pathans--Film-image]

The Pathans 1980 52‘

Directed by André Singer Andy Harries .

There are twelve million Pathans. Bound by a common language, a common heritage and the unifying force of Islam, these proud and independent people do not acknowledge the geographical boundary which

South Asia War / Conflict / Reconciliation Social Organisation Gender Role and Identity

[pink-saris--Film-image]

Pink Saris 2010 100‘

Directed by Kim Longinotto .

Pink saris are worn by the Gulabi Gang, a group of women vigilantes in Northern India. From the untouchable caste, they resist being condescended to as the lowest social class. They have a champion

South Asia Gender Role and Identity Resistance Socioeconomic conditions

[pushy-women--Film-image]

Pushy Women 2001 23‘

Directed by Caro MacDonald .

The modern Japanese woman has the world at her feet: she can pursue any career, wear whatever she likes, and spend her leisure time however she likes – even playing sumo. This film follows five young

Central Asia and Far East Gender Role and Identity Sport

[runaway--Film-image]

Runaway 2001 87‘

Directed by Kim Longinotto Ziba Mir-Hosseini .

This film is set in a refuge for girls in Tehran and follows the stories of five girls who come here. These girls, in leaving a situation that has become intolerable, show incredible courage and

Middle and Near East Children / Young people Social Change Gender Role and Identity

[salma--Film-image]

Salma 2013 90‘

Directed by Kim Longinotto .

When Salma, a young Muslim girl in a south Indian village, was 13 years old, her family locked her up for 25 years, forbidding her to study and forcing her into marriage. During that time, words were

South Asia Gender Role and Identity Social Norms Marriage Art / Artists / Artisans

[shinjuku-boys--Film-image]

Shinjuku Boys 1997 54‘

Directed by Kim Longinotto Jano Williams .

A film about love and gender. This film is set in the New Marilyn night club in Tokyo where all the hosts are women who have decided to live as men. They make their living by working in a club with

Central Asia and Far East Gender Role and Identity Sex / Sexuality Love

[sisters-in-law--Film-image]

Sisters in Law 2005 104‘

Directed by Kim Longinotto Florence Ayisi .

Six year old Manka has run away from home, fleeing her abusive aunt. Sonita has daringly accused her neighbor of rape. Amina has decided to end her brutal marriage by taking her husband to court. Set

West Africa Law and Legislation / Bureaucracy Gender Role and Identity Children / Young people

[some-women-of-marrakech--Film-image]

Some Women of Marrakech 1977 52‘

Directed by Melissa Llewelyn-Davies .

In Marrakech, traditional attitudes to women prevail perhaps more strongly than in other Moroccan cities. This is especially true for those women who live by the standards of traditional ideals in

North and Northeast Africa Gender Role and Identity Labour Dance / Theatre / Performance Social Norms

[tayuban-dancing-the-spirit-in-java--Film-image]

Tayuban: Dancing the Spirit in Java 1996 30‘

Directed by Felicia Hughes-Freeland .

Once a year a ritual is held in a Javanese village. After a distribution of food, men dance with professional female dancers. Their allegedly sexual ethos makes these ‘tayuban’ unacceptable as

South-East Asia Ritual Dance / Theatre / Performance Sex / Sexuality Gender Role and Identity

[theatre-girls--Film-image]

Theatre Girls 1979 57‘

Directed by Kim Longinotto Claire Pollack .

The “Theatre Girls Club” is a hostel for homeless, destitute and alcoholic women in Soho, London. It is run by six paid workers and it is the only hostel in London which takes any women at any

British-Irish Isles Squatter Settlements / Homelessness Socioeconomic conditions Gender Role and Identity

[transfiction--Film-image]

Transfiction 2007 58‘

Directed by Johannes Sjøberg .

Transfiction explores ‘ethnofiction’ – an experimental ethnographic documentary film style in which the participants collaborate with the filmmaker to act out their own and others’ life experiences

South America Reflexivity Film / Photography / Mass media Gender Role and Identity Sex / Sexuality LGBTQI* Ethnofiction

[the-trobriand-islanders-of-papua-new-guinea--Film-image]

The Trobriand Islanders of Papua New Guinea 1990 52‘

Directed by David Wason .

The Trobriand Islands lie off the eastern tip of Papua New Guinea. The island society has a complex balance of male authority and female wealth. Magic spells and sorcery pervade everyday life.

Melanesia Gender Role and Identity Festivals / Carnival Ritual