Films - RAI FILM

RAI FILM

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

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Bang the Drum 2020 28‘

Directed by William Nitzky .

For the Yao minority in rural southwest China, the bronze drum is a sacred heritage. Its sound aids the souls of deceased elders in reaching the ancestral land. When the Chinese government steps in

Central Asia and Far East Music/ Ethnomusicology Tourism/ Travel/ Pilgrimage Rural Shamans and Shamanism

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Call for Grace 2000 30‘

Student Directed by Laetitia Merli .

During Mongolia’s seventy years of domination by the Soviet Union, shamanism, like many aspects of Mongolian tradition, was forbidden by the Communist authorities, and went into decline. Since the

Central Asia and Far East Shamans and Shamanism Post-communism

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Depending on Heaven 1988 56‘

Directed by Peter Entell .

The film is in two parts and focuses on the Mongols living in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region of China. Part One (28 minutes) follows the life of a nomadic Mongol family on their yearly journey

Central Asia and Far East Environment Nomads and Nomadism Herding Everyday Life

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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

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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

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From There to Here 2019 30‘

Directed by Qi Yu Teo .

In 1949, the author’s young grandfather migrated from An Xi, China, to Singapore. Spending almost 70 years in Singapore, he has only been back home four times. As an immigrant from China,

Central Asia and Far East Migration Intergenerational relations Life Story / Life History

[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

[the-gaijin--Film-image]

The Gaijin 2008 24‘

Directed by Chris Christodoulou .

‘The Gaijin’ tells the story of an individual negotiating his identity in a foreign country. It follows Luke Jonathan Driscoll, an American who has been residing in Japan for nearly 3 years and

Central Asia and Far East Migration

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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

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Guli Armug’on 2019 23‘

Directed by Iqbol Meliqo’ziev .

Uzbek and Tajik women in eastern Uzbekistan celebrate the arrival of spring by gathering at the grave of an Islamic saint. The Afghan redbud trees growing on the site are in full bloom. The magical

Central Asia and Far East Religion / Belief / Faith Ritual

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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-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

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Hundreds of Homes 1992 50‘

Directed by Heimo Lappalainen .

Taiga Nomads is a film series about the Evenki (previously the Tungus), a nomadic people scattered all over eastern Siberia, and living under harsh conditions in the taiga, an area predominated by

Central Asia and Far East Nomads and Nomadism Animals

[in-pursuit-of-happiness--Film-image]

In Pursuit of Happiness 2009 31‘

Directed by Ray Ono .

Tokyo life as rarely seen on mainstream media. This short film takes you to the lives of men who live on the outskirts of the city and of Japanese society.

Central Asia and Far East Alternative culture Urban Squatter Settlements / Homelessness

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Join Me in Shambala 2001 30‘

Directed by Anya Bernstein .

Once brutally persecuted under the Soviet regime, Buddhism is re-emerging in Siberia. But with a past where Lamas were killed in prisons and temples burnt to the ground, there are few masters left to

Central Asia and Far East Religion / Belief / Faith Post-communism

[journey-of-the-maggot-feeder--Film-image]

Journey of the Maggot Feeder 2015 68‘

Directed by Liivo Niglas Priit Tender .

This film tries to solve the mystery of a bizarre Arctic fairy tale. Priit Tender, an Estonian animator, makes a film about an old Chukchi legend – The Maggot Feeder. The unconventional narrative

Central Asia and Far East Animation Film / Photography / Mass media Myths / Fairy tales

[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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Land of Udehe 2015 26‘

Student Directed by Ivan Golovnev .

This film takes us into the world of Udehe – indigenous people of the Far East of Russia. According to the census of 2010, their population dropped to 1,490 souls…

Central Asia and Far East Indigenous peoples / First Nations peoples Social Change

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Lives and Deaths between Ebbs and Flows 2019 14‘

Directed by Futuru C.L. Tsai .

Futuru Tsai explores the relationship between Amis people and the sea in this playful portrait of maritime culture in coastal Taiwan. The film focuses on various social and practical activities in

Central Asia and Far East Animals Indigenous peoples / First Nation peoples

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Living with the Revolution 1983 52‘

Directed by Leslie Woodhead Claire Lasko .

*These three films (‘Inside China: Living with the Revolution’; ‘The Newest Revolution’; ‘The Kazakhs of China’) present a valuable record of aspects of most recent developments in China.* (A.

Central Asia and Far East Social Change History Family / Kinship

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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

[mongolia-part-1-on-the-edge-of-the-gobi--Film-image]

Mongolia, part 1: On the Edge of the Gobi 1975 52‘

Directed by Brian Moser .

Mongolia is a country the size of Western Europe with under 1.5 million people but over 23 million head of livestock. This film concentrates on life in the great plains of Mongolia, at the foot of

Central Asia and Far East Herding Social Change Rural Everyday Life

[mongolia-part-2-the-city-on-the-steppes--Film-image]

Mongolia part 2: The City on the Steppes 1975 52‘

Directed by Brian Moser .

The second of two films on Mongolia made by Granada Television in 1974–75 looks at life in Ulan Bator, the capital of Mongolia and home of a quarter of the population. The city celebrates the 53rd

Central Asia and Far East Festivals / Carnival Urban Everyday Life

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The Mystery of the Frozen Tombs: A Young Lady Emerges From the Ice 1994 44‘

Directed by Francoise Levie .

The film unfolds the archaeological discovery of the frozen tombs of Altai, part of the Scythian culture in the Siberian steppe.

Central Asia and Far East Archaeology

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A New Era 2019 71‘

Werbner Award Directed by Boris Svartzman .

In 2008, local authorities evicted 2,000 villagers from Guanzhou, a river island in Southern China, to make way for new urban planning projects. In spite of the demolition of their houses and police

Central Asia and Far East Urban Development projects Infrastructure\transport Land rights Resettlement

[the-newest-revolution--Film-image]

The Newest Revolution 1983 52‘

Directed by Leslie Woodhead Claire Lasko .

This film is a continuation of ‘Living with the Revolution’, set in the same communes near Wuxi and focusing on the same families. This film concentrates, however, on the new social and economic

Central Asia and Far East Family / Kinship Social Change

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Okinami 2019 24‘

Directed by Can Tamura (aka John Wells) .

This film features a Japanese seaside ritual performed in honour of a marine deity, who is considered to hold the power to determine a safe and successful year of local fishing. This two-day event

Central Asia and Far East Festivals/ Carnival Urban Folklore Myths/ Fairy tales

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The Ospreys and the Old Man 2020 9‘

Directed by Ang Gao .

A 76-year-old man living in a village in the middle of China continues the traditional practice of using ospreys (鱼鹰. 鱼鹰 usually referred to as great cormorant in English) to fish while most

Central Asia and Far East Hunting/Gathering/Fishing Animals Elderly People

[the-people-next-to-coal-power-plant--Film-image]

The People Next to Coal Power Plant 2019 22‘

Directed by Hyewon Choi .

Vegetable crops are contaminated, fish have disappeared, illness is rife. Life in the shadow of a Korean coal power plant is difficult, but the locals have no choice but to struggle on nonetheless.

Central Asia and Far East Infrastructure/transport Environment Disasters

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Playing with Nan 2012 88‘

Directed by Dipesh Kharel Asami Saito .

Playing with Nan is the story of a Nepali young man who migrated to work in a Nepali restaurant in northern Japan. The film explores his daily life at work and his family at home, which reflects

South Asia Central Asia and Far East Labour Migration Socioeconomic conditions

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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

[the-school-and-the-village--Film-image]

The School and the Village 1992 50‘

Directed by Heimo Lappalainen .

Taiga Nomads is a film series about the Evenki (previously the Tungus), a nomadic people scattered all over eastern Siberia, and living under harsh conditions in the taiga ± an area predominated by

Central Asia and Far East Nomads and Nomadism Everyday Life

[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

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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-skills-you-passed-on--Film-image]

The Skills You Passed On 1992 50‘

Directed by Heimo Lappalainen .

The second of three films about the Evenki people of eastern Siberia. Focuses on Nikolaj Pavlovich Archemku, who experienced the very beginning of Soviet power, two World Wars, and the

Central Asia and Far East Nomads and Nomadism Everyday Life

[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

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Spirit 2019 19‘

Directed by Jane Dyson Ross Harrison .

Saraswati is a new arrival in an Indian Himalayan village. She wonders how she will ever feel at home in the new setting. “Spirit” by Jane Dyson and Ross Harrison is a story of longing and

Central Asia and Far East Gender Role and identity Agriculture/ Farming Everyday Life Family/ Kinship

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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

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Views from Heavenly Lake 2010 26‘

Directed by Polly Vinken .

Since the beginning of the Mao era in 1949, populations that were once nomadic, isolated by miles of desert and mountains across the Tian Shan ranges, are now becoming highly sought after objects of

Central Asia and Far East Tourism / Travel / Pilgrimage Social Change

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We Don’t Need A Grave 2014 27‘

‘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

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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