Films - RAI FILM

RAI FILM

Film list

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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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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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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

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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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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

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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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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

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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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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

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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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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