Films

Film list

[the-ainu-bear-ceremony--Film-image]

The Ainu Bear Ceremony 1931 27'

Directed by Neil G. Munro.

The RAI has reedited the original film of this ceremony among the Ainu people of Japan. In the bear ceremony, now no longer performed, a specially reared bear was reverently killed and its flesh and

Central Asia and Far East Ritual Animals Indigenous peoples / First Nations peoples

[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

[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

[uzu--Film-image]

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

[we-dont-need-a-grave--Film-image]

We Don't Need A Grave 2014 27'

Directed by .

'We Don't Need a Grave' attempts to show how the people who choose Shizenso rather than the typical family grave try to accept one's death. Shizenso is a natural mortuary practice that has no

Central Asia and Far East Religion / Belief / Faith Death Ritual