Films - RAI FILM

RAI FILM

Film list

[sherpas-of-nepal--Film-image]

Sherpas of Nepal 1977 52‘

Directed by Leslie Woodhead Pattie Winter .

Thami is a village 12,000 feet up in the Himalayas in the Kingdom of Nepal. As the film’s opening shots illustrate, in a type of filmic short-hand, Thami is composed of a patchwork of individual

South Asia Tourism / Travel / Pilgrimage Labour Marriage Social Change

[spear-and-sword-a-payment-of-bridewealth-on-the-island-of-roti--Film-image]

Spear and Sword: a Payment of Bridewealth on the Island of Roti 1988 22‘

Directed by James J. Fox Timothy Asch Patsy Asch .

The film begins as the groom’s side gathers the animals and money for a bridewealth payment, and discusses problems that might arise in negotiating the exchange. In ritual silence, they walk to the

South-East Asia Ritual Marriage Family / Kinship

[in-the-land-of-the-war-canoes--Film-image]

In the Land of the War Canoes 1972 47‘

Directed by Edward S. Curtis .

The film was made in 1914 by Edward Curtis. The plot concerns the efforts of a young man, Motana, son of a great chief, to obtain a bride and how he is thwarted by a wicked sorcerer. Many of the

North America Archival material / Museum displays Marriage Film / Photography / Mass media

[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

[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

[the-kwegu--Film-image]

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

[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

[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

[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

[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

[kafis-story--Film-image]

Kafi’s Story 1979 53‘

Directed by Arthur Howes Amy Hardie .

Shot in 1989, Kafi’s Story captures Nuba life at the moment before it was engulfed in the Sudanese civil war. Kafi narrates his own story into a portable tape record as he travels from his village,

North and Northeast Africa Film / Photography / Mass media Marriage Tourism / Travel / Pilgrimage

[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

[sahars-wedding--Film-image]

Sahar’s Wedding 1991 46‘

Directed by Hanna Musleh .

The chronicle of a wedding in a village in Palestine under Israeli occupation at the time of the first Intifada, this film looks at the lives of the bride and groom, and their families. Attitudes

Middle and Near East Marriage Social Change

[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

[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

[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

[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

[the-internet-bride--Film-image]

The Internet Bride 2004 29‘

Directed by Ellie Ford .

Cali in Colombia is celebrated for salsa music and beautiful women and is also the base of the Internet Bride agency, ‘Latin Best’ with 900 women on its files. Accompanying the British and American

South America Marriage Internet

[bridewealth-for-a-goddess--Film-image]

Bridewealth for a Goddess 2000 72‘

Directed by Chris Owen .

A unique insight into a secret spirit cult among the Kawelka people in the Western Highlands of Papua New Guinea. After a dream, a clan leader initiates a long and complex ‘work’, when he and a

Melanesia Ritual Marriage Possession

[the-wedding-camels--Film-image]

The Wedding Camels 1976 108‘

Directed by Judith MacDougall David MacDougall .

Also about individuals from the Turkana in north-western Kenya (see ‘Lorang’s Way’ and ‘A Wife Among Wives’), this film chronicles a series of events which surround the marriage of Lorang’s

East Africa Family / Kinship Marriage Animals Herding

[welcome-valentine-2017--Film-image]

Welcome Valentine 2017 2017 16‘

Student Directed by Dhruv Satija .

In a temple dedicated to Hanuman in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, a priest flouts convention by marrying couples who are shunned elsewhere: mostly those who have eloped from families who disapprove of their

South Asia Marriage Love LGBTQI* Religion / Belief / Faith

[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

[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