Films - RAI FILM

RAI FILM

Film list

[the-kalasha-rites-of-spring--Film-image]

The Kalasha: Rites of Spring 1990 60‘

Directed by John Sheppard .

The Kalasha are a tribal people, 3,000 strong, who live in the high valleys of the Hindu Kush mountains in the North West Frontier Province of Pakistan. The Kalasha are unique as a pagan people in

South Asia Festivals / Carnival Land Rights Agriculture / Farming Social Conflict

[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

[the-age-of-reason--Film-image]

The Age of Reason 2004 87‘

Directed by David MacDougall .

In this fifth and final film in the Doon School quintet, MacDougall focuses on the life of one student whom he discovers at the school. The film was made in parallel with ‘The New Boys’ and

South Asia Children / Young people Education / Knowledge Transmission Informant-researcher relationship

[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

[the-women-weavers-of-assam--Film-image]

The Women Weavers of Assam 2019 98‘

Special Interest Directed by Aparna Sharma .

The Women Weavers of Assam focuses on the craft, labour and the everyday lives of a group of women weavers in India’s northeastern state of Assam. The weavers belong to a non-profit collective

South Asia Art / Artists / Artisans Gender Role and identity Material Culture

[sangita-priya-lover-of-music--Film-image]

Sangita Priya: Lover of Music 2007 30‘

Directed by Anne-Katrine Hansen .

From temples to recording studios of Kochi, Kerala in South India, we follow four musicians -a student and his master, a professional and a promoter – all uniquely devoted to the music that permeates

South Asia Music / Ethnomusicology Education / Knowledge transmission

[cham-in-the-lepcha-village-of-lingthem--Film-image]

Cham in the Lepcha Village of Lingthem 2007 52‘

Directed by Dawa Tsering Lepcha .

Every winter, over a period of six days, the lamas of Lingthem’s village monastery hold their annual cham. These dramatic ritual masked dances impart elementary Buddhist teachings while providing

South Asia Ritual Dance / Theatre / Performance Religion / Belief / Faith

[return-of-the-nightingales--Film-image]

Return of the Nightingales 2013 33‘

Directed by John Baily .

In 2010 Afghan musicologist Dr. Ahmad Sarmast opened the Afghanistan National Institute of Music (ANIM), a coeducational vocational music school in Kabul that teaches Afghan, Indian and Western

South Asia Music / Ethnomusicology Education / Knowledge Transmission Children / Young people

[singing-pictures-women-painters-of-naya--Film-image]

Singing Pictures – Women Painters of Naya 2005 45‘

Directed by Lina Fruzzetti Ákos Östör .

For generations the Patua (Chitrakara) communities of West Bengal have been painters and singers of stories depicted in scrolls. The film follows the daily lives of Muslim Patua women from Naya

South Asia Material Culture Art / Artists / Artisans Music / Ethnomusicology

[the-absence-of-apricots--Film-image]

The Absence of Apricots 2018 49‘

Student Directed by Daniel Asadi Faezi .

In the Hunza Valley in the northern Pakistan there is a magnificent turquoise lake. But the lake hasn’t been always there: it is the result of a massive landslide that blocked a river, causing

South Asia Environment Memory Development projects Resettlement

[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

[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

[the-city-beautiful--Film-image]

The City Beautiful 2003 78‘

Directed by Rahul Roy .

Sunder Nagri (Beautiful City) is a small working class colony on the margins of India’s capital city, Delhi. Most families residing here come from a community of weavers. The last ten years have

South Asia Urban Labour Socioeconomic conditions

[under-the-palace-wall--Film-image]

Under the Palace Wall 2013 53‘

Directed by David MacDougall .

From the 16th century the Indian village of Delwara in southern Rajasthan was ruled as a principality of the kingdom of Mewar. Its palace, which overlooks the village, is now a luxury hotel – a

South Asia Education / Knowledge transmission Children / Young people Tourism / Travel / Pilgrimage

[black-mountain--Film-image]

Black Mountain 2008 84‘

Directed by Charlotte Whitby-Coles Amin Hajee .

A once unremarkable site of multi-faith pilgrimage to a Sufi Saint has been transformed and its local history rewritten – the film documents the journey of Charlotte, a student undertaking her PhD

South Asia Religion / Belief / Faith Tourism / Travel / Pilgrimage Inter-religious relations

[schoolscapes--Film-image]

SchoolScapes 2007 77‘

Directed by David MacDougall .

Inspired by the cinema of Lumière and the ideas of the 20th century Indian thinker Jiddu Krishnamurti, David MacDougall follows up the Doon School Quintet, his series of films about a traditional

South Asia Children / Young people Education / Knowledge transmission Film / Photography / Mass media

[delhi-at-eleven--Film-image]

Delhi at Eleven 2013 82‘

Directed by Ravi Shivhare Anshu Singh Kumar Kashyap Shikha Kumar .

This film presents the work of four young filmmakers of New Delhi. From March to May 2012 they took part in a video workshop at the CIE Experimental Basic School, a government primary school. Each of

South Asia Film / Photography / Mass media Children / Young people Education / Knowledge Transmission

[playing-with-nan--Film-image]

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

[kataragama-a-god-for-all-seasons--Film-image]

Kataragama: A God for All Seasons 1973 52‘

Directed by Charlie Nairn .

In ever-increasing numbers Sinhalese of all religions (Muslims, Christians and Buddhists) are turning to Kataragama, an ancient Hindu God, at times of trouble and desperation. Once a year pilgrims

South Asia Religion / Belief / Faith Ritual Possession

[amir-an-afghan-refugee-musicians-life-in-peshavar-pakistan--Film-image]

Amir – An Afghan Refugee Musician’s Life in Peshavar, Pakistan 1985 52‘

Directed by John Baily .

The film investigates and portrays the life of Afghan refugees living in and around the city of Peshawar in northern Pakistan through the experiences of the musician Amir. The aspirations of Afghan

South Asia Music / Ethnomusicology Refugees / Displaced populations

[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

[calcutta-calling--Film-image]

Calcutta Calling 2006 16‘

Directed by André Hörmann .

“Business Process Outsourcing” is the fastest growing industry in the world. In India, approximately 350,000 people are currently working in call centres to maintain the contact between western

South Asia Labour

[khyber--Film-image]

Khyber 1979 49‘

Directed by André Singer Andy Harries .

For more than a century Britain was engaged in war with the Pashtun tribesmen of India’s North West frontier. It began with the bloodiest massacre in the history of the British Empire when, in

South Asia War / Conflict / Reconciliation Colonialism / Postcolonialism History

[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

[dor-low-is-better--Film-image]

Dor, Low is Better 1988 47‘

Directed by Robert Boonzajer-Flaes .

The film offers an experimental approach to the comparative study of cultures: the monks of a Tibetan monastery compare their own flutes with the Swiss alphorn and the Dutch windhorn introduced to

South Asia Music / Ethnomusicology Ritual

[barah-pal--Film-image]

Barah Pal 2009 30‘

Directed by Jennifer Rosen .

12 castes of gypsy artists ended their nomadic ways nearly 45 years ago to squat in New Delhi. Now the slum is being dismantled and rehabilitated. These are their last months in the colony as they

South Asia Refugees / Displaced populations Squatter Settlements / Homelessness Travellers / Roma Urban

[the-golden-beach--Film-image]

The Golden Beach 2008 58‘

Directed by Hasse Wester .

A small group of farmers belonging to the Halakki Gowda tribe live near a small beach in a valley in southern India. When the Swedish film maker Hasse Wester was first there twenty years ago the

South Asia Tourism / Travel / Pilgrimage Rural Social Change

[drugs-prayers--Film-image]

Drugs & Prayers 2009 55‘

Directed by Helene Basu .

The Sufi shrine of Mira Datar in North Gujarat is a large pilgrimage centre specialising in healing possession and mental illness. It has become a site of experimenting with new forms of community

South Asia Health / Health care / Healing Ritual Religion / Belief / Faith

[ustad-rahim--Film-image]

Ustad Rahim 2008 55‘

Directed by John Baily .

Shot in the city of Heart, western Afghanistan 1994, in the period between the fall of the last leftist government and the coming of the Taliban, this is a portrait film of an outstanding musician,

South Asia Music / Ethnomusicology Education / Knowledge Transmission Personal Narrative

[the-new-boys--Film-image]

The New Boys 2003 100‘

Directed by David MacDougall .

The social dynamics of the group is the focus of this study of life in Foot House, one of Doon School’s dormitories for new boys. It begins a few days before the boys appear and shows them

South Asia Children / Young people Education / Knowledge Transmission Collective / Community identity

[are-you-listening--Film-image]

Are You Listening! 2012 90‘

Directed by Kamar Ahmad Simon Sara Afreen .

By the coastal belts of Bangladesh, in a small village named Sutarkhali, Rakhi, 27, lives with her husband Soumen, 32, and their 6 year-old son Rahul. Fighting against all the odds of the woods,

South Asia Environment Disasters Refugees / Displaced populations Development projects

[the-childs-eye--Film-image]

The Child’s Eye 2018 ‘

Directed by David MacDougall .

This video is a series of 12 short films that are the result of ethnographic filmmaker David MacDougall’s a five-year project video workshop project with Indian children. In six workshops held in

South Asia Children / Young people Informant-researcher relationship Participatory / Collaborative methods

[holy-men-and-fools--Film-image]

Holy Men and Fools 2005 61‘

Directed by Michael Yorke .

The film narrates the story of Uma Giri, a Swedish woman who has become a Hindu nun, called Uma Giri. She is one of the few western women to be accepted into the most radical order of wandering

South Asia Religion / Belief / Faith Inter-religious relations Tourism / Travel / Pilgrimage

[photo-wallahs--Film-image]

Photo Wallahs 1991 60‘

Directed by David MacDougall Judith MacDougall .

This film is an exploration of the cultural and personal meanings of photographs in a hill station in northern India. The ‘photo wallahs’ are the local photographers of Mussoorie, a town which

South Asia Film / Photography / Mass media Tourism / Travel / Pilgrimage

[across-the-border-afghan-musicians-exiled-in-peshawar--Film-image]

Across the Border: Afghan Musicians exiled in Peshawar 2008 54‘

Directed by John Baily .

It is the year 2000 and most of Afghanistan is under the control of the Taliban. Hearing that many of Afghanistain’s musicians are now in exile across the border in Pakistan, ethnomusicologist John

South Asia Refugees / Displaced populations Music / Ethnomusicology Religion / Belief / Faith

[raju-and-his-friends--Film-image]

Raju and His Friends 1988 40‘

Directed by Marcus Banks .

This film is set in the city of Jamnagar, western India. The film focuses on the emotions, quality of life, and on duty. Raju’s friendship with different people, including the director, provide a

South Asia Urban Informant-researcher relationship Life Story / Life History

[ritual-journeys--Film-image]

Ritual Journeys 2011 75‘

Directed by Dawa Lepcha Anna Balikci .

The film is an intimate portrait of Merayk, an 80 years old Lepcha shaman or Padim. Merayk lives with his family in Dzongu, a Lepcha reserve in North Sikkim. He performs healing rituals for

South Asia Ritual Shamans and Shamanism Health / Health care / Healing

[a-small-light--Film-image]

A Small Light 2004 32‘

Directed by Julia Yezbick .

Through following the daily life of a home for the elderly in Kathmandhu, Nepal, run by Catholic nuns but situated beside the cremation ghats of Pashupathinath Hindu temple, this film explores

South Asia Death Inter-religious relations Religion / Belief / Faith Elderly people

[those-who-care-faith-and-freedom-in-a-ladakhi-village--Film-image]

Those who Care: Faith and Freedom in a Ladakhi Village 2001 31‘

Directed by Henriette Levaulx-Vrecourt .

In Tia village, in an isolated area of Ladakh – North West India – lives an amchi (a local herbal doctor) and his wife. It is summer – a short season in the Indian Himalayas and the only period of

South Asia Health / Health care / Healing Archaeobotany / Ethnobotany

[gandhis-children--Film-image]

Gandhi’s Children 2008 185‘

Directed by David MacDougall .

A monolithic building on the outskirts of Delhi provides food and shelter for 350 boys. Some are orphans, some have been abandoned, others have run away from home. About half are held under a court

South Asia Children / Young people Squatter Settlements / Homelessness Socioeconomic conditions

[tingvong-a-lepcha-village-in-sikkim--Film-image]

Tingvong: A Lepcha Village in Sikkim 2005 60‘

Directed by Dawa T Lepcha Anna Balikci-Denjongpa Asen Balikci .

The film illustrates the changes the Lepcha of the Dzongu reserve, North Sikkim, have been through in the last 60 years. From the 1940s, the Lepcha of Tingvong village gradually abandoned hunting,

South Asia Social Change Religion / Belief / Faith Agriculture / Farming

[a-spark-in-him--Film-image]

A Spark in Him 2008 28‘

Directed by Claudia Engels .

‘A Spark in Him’ is a film about the life story of Sajay Kumar, a young man without arms who lives in a home for disabled children in Kerala, India, and studies at the College of Fine Arts. By

South Asia Health / Health care / Healing Children / Young people Education / Knowledge Transmission

[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

[with-morning-hearts--Film-image]

With Morning Hearts 2001 110‘

Directed by David MacDougall .

This film continues MacDougall’s long-term study of an elite boys’ boarding school in northern India. It focuses on a group of twelve-year-olds during their first year in one of the ‘houses’ for new

South Asia Children / Young people Education / Knowledge Transmission

[taras-footprint--Film-image]

Tara’s footprint 2018 70‘

Intangible Culture Directed by Georgina Barreiro .

Tara’s Footprint skilfully conjures the atmosphere of Khechuperi, a village in the Himalayas in north eastern India. Eschewing standard exposition the film follows four young siblings as they go

South Asia Children / Young people Dance / Theatre / Performance Everyday Life Music / Ethnomusicology Religion / Belief / Faith Rural

[ravi-and-bhajay--Film-image]

Ravi and Bhajay 2002 26‘

Directed by Rachel Webster .

Street boys Ravi and Bhajay lead a tough life on the pavements of Mumbai in India. To get away from it, they visit the nearby holy city of Ujjain with the film-maker. But the call of life on the streets is still strong.

South Asia Children / Young people Squatter Settlements / Homelessness Urban

[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

[a-tibetan-new-year--Film-image]

A Tibetan New Year 1987 45‘

Directed by Jon Jerstad .

This outstanding documentary is placed in Northern India among a group of Tibetan refugees. They celebrate the New Year, following a ritual of their religion, Bonpo, which is older than Buddhism.

South Asia Religion / Belief / Faith Ritual

[karam-in-jaipur--Film-image]

Karam in Jaipur 2001 54‘

Directed by David MacDougall .

This third film in the Doon School quintet follows the main protagonist of ‘With Morning Hearts’ into the next phase of his life in Jaipur House, one of the five main houses of the school. There he

South Asia Children / Young people Education / Knowledge transmission Sport

[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

[a-life-with-slate--Film-image]

A Life with Slate 2006 59‘

Directed by Dipesh Kharel .

Alampu is a beautiful and exceedingly remote village in Nepal. The majority of the settlers there are Thami people, one of the indigenous groups of Nepal. More than 90 percent of them have been

South Asia Labour Socioeconomic conditions

[rain-in-the-mirror--Film-image]

Rain in the Mirror 2012 48‘

Directed by Nilanjan Bhattachary Kanchan Mukhopadhayay .

Dorji Bhutia, a Buddhist monk and a reputed mask-maker with supernatural powers of bringing or stopping rain chose a self-determined death at the age of eighty-six. Dorji leaves his mystic image

South Asia Religion / Belief / Faith Children / Young people Education / Knowledge Transmission Intergenerational relations

[silk-muthappar-and-vhs-portraits-from-south-india--Film-image]

Silk, Muthappar and VHS: Portraits from South India 1997 63‘

Directed by Ulrich Grossenbacher Damaris Luethi .

The documentary, filmed during ethnographic field research, shows three portraits of ‘ordinary’ personalities — Mala, a young weaver sharing a one-bedroom house with nine siblings; Santa Cruz,

South Asia Labour Everyday Life Film / Photography / Mass media

[gula-music-for-a-sacred-time--Film-image]

Gula – Music for a sacred time 2020 15‘

Directed by Remigiusz Sowa .

Introduces the rich and varied Hindu-Buddhist religious and ritual musical heritage of the ancient royal city of Bhaktapur (Nepal).

South Asia Music / Ethnomusicology

[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

[arnav-at-six--Film-image]

Arnav At Six 2012 28‘

Directed by David MacDougall .

Filmed as a collaborative project with Arnav Koshy in 2008, this film explores the mind and activities of an intelligent and observant child of six. Arnav is fascinated by the geology, plant-life,

South Asia Children / Young people Education / Knowledge Transmission

[diya--Film-image]

Diya 2001 55‘

Directed by Judith MacDougall .

A diya is a small terra cotta oil lamp used throughout India in Hindu ceremonies. The film follows the life history of an object through the every day experience of people who make, sell and use it

South Asia Trade Material Culture Religion / Belief / Faith Art / Artists / Artisans

[this-is-a-majlis-a-sound-essay--Film-image]

This Is A Majlis – A Sound Essay 2020 17‘

Directed by Timothy Cooper Abeera Arif-Bashir .

This short film is a multi-platform sound essay. It is primarily illustrated with still images, that conjure an atmosphere of intimacy and intensity of the majlis-e-aza, a mourning gathering central

South Asia Music/Ethnomusicology Urban Art/ Aritists/ Artisans Social Change

[awareness--Film-image]

Awareness 2011 67‘

Directed by David MacDougall Judith MacDougall .

Filmed in South India, Andhra Pradesh, at Rishi Valley School, founded by the 20th Century Indian thinker Krishnamurti, ‘Awareness’ explores the sensibilities of two groups of young Indian teenagers,

South Asia Education / Knowledge transmission Children / Young people

[where-the-clouds-end--Film-image]

Where the Clouds End 2014 52‘

Directed by Wanphrang Diengdoh .

“My late great grandfather was a Bengali who came to Shillong in the early 1900s – long before the present political border divided the lands.” After the creation of borders between India and

South Asia Colonialism / Postcolonialism Race / Racism / Antiracism Collective / Community identity

[afghan-exodus--Film-image]

Afghan Exodus 1980 52‘

Directed by André Singer .

When Granada Television visited Afghanistan to make the award-winning Disappearing World ‘The Kirghiz’, they were a proud, independent, nomadic people who made their living by rearing herds of yaks

South Asia Refugees / Displaced populations War / Conflict / Reconciliation Migration

[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

[a-kali-temple-inside-out--Film-image]

A Kali Temple Inside Out 2018 83‘

Werbner Award Directed by Dipesh Kharel Frode Storaas .

Religious boundaries in India are not necessarily as sharp and antagonistic as news media lead us to believe. This film portrays everyday life inside and around a Kali temple in the city of Kanpur,

South Asia Religion / Belief / Faith Collective / Community identity

[doon-school-chronicles--Film-image]

Doon School Chronicles 2000 140‘

Directed by David MacDougall .

David MacDougall’s long term visual study completed. The Doon School, located in Dehra Dun in Uttaranchal, is perhaps the most famous boys’ boarding school in India. Although it has sometimes been

South Asia Education / Knowledge transmission Children / Young people

[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

[kusum--Film-image]

Kusum 2000 69‘

Directed by Jouko Aaltonen Antti Pakaslahti .

Kusum is a 14-year-old Indian girl. She lives and attends school in Delhi. Kaushal, her father, drives a motorised rickshaw and works his fingers to the bone to support his family. Sumitra, Kusum’s

South Asia Children / Young people Health / Health care / Healing Possession