Films - RAI FILM

RAI FILM

Film list

[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

[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

[pride-of-place-observations-of-lives-of-girls-at-a-public-school--Film-image]

Pride of Place – Observations of lives of girls at a Public School 1976 59‘

Directed by Dorothea Gazidis Kimona Landseer Kim Longinotto .

A rarely seen classic, PRIDE OF PLACE was made as a first project while Longinotto was a student at England’s National School of Television and Film. As a teenager, the filmmaker had been condemned

British-Irish Isles Children / Young people Education / Knowledge Transmission Gender Role and Identity

[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

[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

[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

[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

[virtual-me-gender-and-identity-in-world-of-warcraft--Film-image]

Virtual me: Gender and Identity in World of Warcraft 2013 11‘

Directed by Trent Monahan Sarah Prothero Jennifer Torson .

‘Virtual Me’ examines the experiences of players of the online game World of Warcraft, focusing specifically on their experience and understanding of issues surrounding gender and identity within

North America Gender Role and Identity Animation Internet

[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

[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

[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

[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

[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

[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

[my-eyes-as-a-stranger--Film-image]

My Eyes as a Stranger 1984 53‘

Directed by Toni de Bromhead .

This film tells the story of the friendship between an English filmmaker and Nicola, a Sicilian ex-gangster who lives in Florence. The film moves to and fro between a street of ill repute, and the

South-East Europe Gender Role and Identity

[come-here-come-here--Film-image]

Come Here Come Here 2019 28‘

Directed by Julia Sterre Schmitz .

As a poetic manifesto for a more plural understanding of female sexuality, this associative film interweaves many theories, images, fantasies, memories and confusions drawn from popular culture,

Western Europe Sex / Sexuality Love Gender Role and Identity Research Methods

[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

[atieno--Film-image]

Atieno 2018 64‘

Directed by June Ndinya Effie Awino Ruth Njoki Lavine Atieno Dorcas Akin .

Atieno is a collaborative fiction film scripted, acted and directed by DreamGirls, a group of adolescent girls and young women from Nairobi and Kisumu. The film tells of Atieno, a 16 year old girl

East Africa Health / Healthcare / Healing Children / Young people Gender Role and Identity Ethnofiction Dance / Theatre / Performance Participatory / Collaborative methods Sex / Sexuality

[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

[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

[totegrandfather--Film-image]

TOTE_Grandfather 2019 80‘

Main Competition Directed by María Sojob .

This film portrays an unexpected encounter between an old Tzotzil man, who is going blind, and his granddaughter, who does not remember her childhood well. The granddaughter, having grown up in the

Central America Indigenous Filmmaking Gender Role and Identity Family / Kinship Indigenous peoples / First Nations peoples Elderly people Love Intergenerational relations Linguistics / Language Memory

[when-four-friends-meet--Film-image]

When Four Friends Meet 2000 43‘

Directed by Rahul Roy .

Bunty, Kamal, Sanjay and Sanju, best of friends and residents of Jehangiripuri, a working class colony on the outskirts of Delhi are young and trying to make their lives in an environment which is

South Asia Gender Role and Identity Children / Young people Urban

[dukas-dilemma--Film-image]

Duka’s Dilemma 2001 87‘

Directed by Jean Lydall Kaira Strecker .

Filmmaker and anthropologist Jean Lydall has been making films with the Hamar community of southern Ethiopia since the 1970s. In 2001 she returned with her daughter and grandson to follow the

North and Northeast Africa Family / Kinship Marriage Gender Role and Identity

[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

[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

[majma--Film-image]

Majma 2001 54‘

Directed by Rahul Roy .

Aslam sells medicines for sexual problems on the pavements of Meena Bazar near Jama Masjid in Delhi. Khalifa Barkat presides over an wrestling gym (akhara) in the adjacent park and puts a group of

South Asia Gender Role and Identity Sport Socioeconomic conditions

[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

[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

[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

[some-alien-creatures--Film-image]

Some Alien Creatures 2005 74‘

Directed by David MacDougall .

A film about the famous experimental, co-educational boarding school in South India, the Rishi Valley School, founded by the influential Indian thinker Krishnamurti. In this film about a progressive

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

[a-wife-among-wives--Film-image]

A Wife Among Wives 1981 72‘

Directed by Judith MacDougall David MacDougall .

This segment of the trilogy on the Turkana of northern Kenya (see ‘Lorang’s Way’ and ‘The Wedding Camels’ above) evolves around the role of women in the society. The audience follows the

East Africa Gender Role and Identity Marriage Family / Kinship

[the-veil-unveiled--Film-image]

The Veil Unveiled 2004 29‘

Directed by Vanessa Langer .

In Yemen, the land of Queen Saba, a wide variety of veils can be found. In the capital Sana’a, the women, although at first sight appearing to all be wearing but black, distinguish themselves one

Middle and Near East Gender Role and Identity Material Culture Religion / Belief / Faith

[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

[uzu--Film-image]

Uzu 2015 27‘

Directed by Gaspard Kuentz .

Held every October in the city of Matsuyama, the Dogo Autumn Festival is one of the most violent religious festivals celebrated in Japan. Eight teams of men carrying massive portable wood shrines

Central Asia and Far East Ritual Gender Role and Identity

[nuba-wrestling--Film-image]

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

[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

[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

[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

[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

[this-is-my-face--Film-image]

This is My Face 2018 57‘

Student Directed by Angélica Cabezas Pino .

In Chile, people living with HIV fear stigma, and often conceal their condition and remain silent about what they are going through. This is My Face explores what happens when a range of men living

South America LGBTQI* Participatory / Collaborative methods Health / Health care / Healing Gender Role and Identity Film / Photography / Mass media Memory Life Story / Life History Art / Artists / Artisans

[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

[a-colombian-family--Film-image]

A Colombian Family 2020 80‘

Main Competition Directed by Tanja Wol Sørensen .

A powerful mother-daughter drama is at the centre of this film. Rooted in disagreement—both personal and political—the film follows the consequences of a war that leaves them with an impossible

South America War / Conflict / Reconciliation Family / Kinship Gender Role and Identity Intergenerational relations Memory Migration Personal Narrative Political Activists Refugees / Displaced populations Social Conflict

[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

[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

[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

[q2p--Film-image]

Q2P 2006 55‘

Directed by Paromita Vohra .

Q2P is a film about toilets and the city. It sifts through the dream of Mumbai as a future Shanghai and searches for public toilets, watching who has to queue to pee. As the film observes who has

South Asia Gender Role and Identity Urban Socioeconomic conditions

[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

[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

[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

[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

[paradise-bent-boys-will-be-girls-in-samoa--Film-image]

Paradise Bent. Boys will be Girls in Samoa 1999 51‘

Directed by Heather Croall .

Paradise Bent is a fascinating and entertaining film that tells the story of the Samoan fa’afafines: boys who are raised as girls and take on the domestic duties performed by women around the home,

Melanesia Gender Role and Identity Sex / Sexuality

[wives--Film-image]

Wives 2017 85‘

RAI Basil Wright Directed by Lisbet Holtedahl .

Alhajji Ibrahim is an Islamic scholar who has served as judge at the Sultanate of Ngaoundéré in Northern Cameroon for 46 years. The film follows Alhajji during the last years of his life, focusing

West Africa Family / Kinship Everyday Life Gender Role and Identity Marriage Personal Narrative Religion / Belief / Faith Social Norms

[without-fathers-or-husbands--Film-image]

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

[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

[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

[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

[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

[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

[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

[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

[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

[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

[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

[the-body-wont-close--Film-image]

The Body Won’t Close 2020 74‘

Main Competition Directed by Mattijs van de Port .

Our bodies are semi-permeable. All over the world, stories are being told about heroes who magically “close” their bodies, so as to become invincible. This film follows one such story, as it is

South America Essay film Gender Role and Identity Folklore Reflexivity

[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