Films - RAI FILM

RAI FILM

Film list

[daba-portrait-of-a-na-shaman--Film-image]

Daba – Portrait of a Na Shaman 1999 40‘

Directed by Hua Cai .

After more than a quarter of a century without any form of religious ceremony, the Na, an ethnic group living on the Himalayan plateau, began openly practising their religion again in the early

South-East Asia Education / Knowledge transmission Religion / Belief / Faith Shamans and Shamanism

[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

[a-celebration-of-origins-wai-brama-flores-indonesia--Film-image]

A Celebration of Origins: Wai Brama, Flores, Indonesia 1992 45‘

Directed by Timothy Asch Patsy Asch .

This film is a record of the gren mahe rituals of the people of the domain of Wai Brama. The gren mahe is the largest religious event of the Wai Brama ceremonial system and requires the participation

South-East Asia Ritual Religion / Belief / Faith

[the-art-of-regret--Film-image]

The Art of Regret 2007 60‘

Directed by Judith MacDougall .

Photography is known in China as the “Art of Regret”. In the rapidly changing city of Kunming, people are ambivalent about whether they want photography to be a medium of preservation and

South-East Asia Material Culture Film / Photography / Mass media

[the-whale-hunters-of-lamalera--Film-image]

The Whale Hunters of Lamalera 1988 52‘

Directed by John Blake David Wason .

The Whale Hunters of Lamalera was filmed over a period of four weeks during June 1987. Lamalera is a village which is perched on the rocky slopes of an active volcano on the southern coast of the

South-East Asia Hunting / Gathering / Fishing Animals Everyday Life

[the-water-of-words-a-cultural-ecology-of-a-small-island-in-eastern-indonesia--Film-image]

The Water of Words: a cultural ecology of a small island in Eastern Indonesia 1983 30‘

Directed by J. Fox Timothy Asch Patsy Asch .

This film examines the ecology and poetry of everyday life. Two Rotinese narrate this film, each offering his perception of the importance of the Lontar (Borassus) palm: a clan leader describes the

South-East Asia Archaeobotany / Ethnobotany Linguistics / Language Environment

[small-man-of-the-forest--Film-image]

Small Man of the Forest 2004 37‘

Directed by Hugh Hartford .

Murray Collins leaves his city life in search of a bipedal ape. On his journey to highland Sumatra, he meets an academic, three farmers, two conservationists and a shaman, all of whom advise him on

South-East Asia Animals

[keepers-of-the-faith-the-buddhist-nuns-of-sagaing-hills--Film-image]

Keepers of the Faith: The Buddhist Nuns of Sagaing Hills 1996 51‘

Directed by Hiroko Kawanami .

In the Sagaing Hills, 12 miles from the ancient capital of Mandalay are hundreds of pagodas, stupas, monasteries and nunneries which form a focal point of worship for Buddhism in Burma. In 1986 the

South-East Asia Religion / Belief / Faith Collective / Community identity Gender Role and Identity

[in-the-play-of-life-a-wayang-performance-in-east-java--Film-image]

In the Play of Life: a wayang performance in East Java 1992 25‘

Directed by Patsy Asch .

These companion films examine the philosophy and ritual practices of the followers of a holy man popularly known as Embah Wali. The movement, centred in Blitar, East Java, regards wayang as a model

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

[the-longest-struggle-the-karen-of-burma--Film-image]

The Longest Struggle: The Karen of Burma 1993 52‘

Directed by John Sheppard .

In the forested hills of eastern Burma, a war has been going on for more than 50 years. A war that is rarely reported and is often apparently at a stalemate. For the Karen people of this part of

South-East Asia War / Conflict / Reconciliation Memory

[jero-tapakan-stories-from-the-life-of-a-balinese-healer--Film-image]

Jero Tapakan: Stories from the life of a Balinese Healer 1983 26‘

Directed by Timothy Asch Linda Connor Patsy Asch .

Jero beings with an account of her family’s extreme poverty that culminated in her desire to leave her family and travel as a pedlar. She describes mystical experiences that led her to recognise

South-East Asia Health / Health care / Healing Socioeconomic conditions

[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

[lady-of-the-lake--Film-image]

Lady of the Lake 2014 22‘

Directed by Zaw Naing Oo .

Governments – even decades-old military regimes – may come and go but, like many rural communities in Myanmar (formerly known as Burma), the lives of the villagers of Pyun Su on the banks of Moe

South-East Asia Religion / Belief / Faith Rural

[breaking-the-chains--Film-image]

Breaking the Chains 2015 64‘

Student Directed by Erminia Colucci .

The practice of using shackles and chains to physically restrain people with mental illness (known as pasung) is widespread in Indonesia (as in many other developing/low middle income countries) and

South-East Asia Prison Health / Health care / Healing Political Activists Development projects

[the-second-red-line--Film-image]

The Second Red Line 2004 25‘

Directed by Veera Lehto .

In HIV testing, the second red line is the indication of a positive result. This film follows two volunteers working with HIV & Aids sufferers in the Buduburam Refugee Camp in Ghana. In the

South-East Asia Health / Health care / Healing Development projects

[sundanese-culture-alive--Film-image]

Sundanese Culture Alive 1988 46‘

Directed by Jean Hellwig .

Jaipongan is a new style of music and dancing which was ‘invented’ about a decade ago on Western Java, Indonesia. Drawing on more classical Javanese music and taking elements from Japanese and

South-East Asia Music / Ethnomusicology Dance / Theatre / Performance

[tigers-apprentice--Film-image]

Tigers Apprentice 1998 57‘

Directed by M. Trinh Nguyen .

Tiger’s Apprentice is the story of M. Trinh Nguyen’s journey to her native Vietnam. She observes and documents her great-uncle’s folk medicine practices treating many patients and making his

South-East Asia Health / Health care / Healing Archaeobotany / Ethnobotany

[harmoni-healing-together--Film-image]

HARMONI: HEALING TOGETHER 2021 98‘

Directed by Erminia Colucci .

As a nation of 270 million, Indonesia is facing the grave task of caring for millions of people living with mental illness. Many have experienced human rights abuses in their lifetime. In communities

South-East Asia Health / Health care / Healing Religion / Belief / Faith

[ngarap-fighting-over-a-corpse--Film-image]

Ngarap: fighting over a corpse 1973 17‘

Directed by Anthony Forge .

In 1993, Anthony Forge filmed the cremation of an older woman from an affluent ‘commoner’ family. As her body was moved from her family compound to the cremation tower, men of the ward seized the

South-East Asia Death Ritual Art / Artists / Artisans Archival material / Museum displays

[celso-and-cora--Film-image]

Celso and Cora 2000 109‘

Directed by Gary Kildea .

The film is about one family who live in the slums of Manila. Gary Kildea and a Filipino collaborator enter this family’s life, filming them as they eat, as they care for their children, as they work

South-East Asia Squatter Settlements / Homelessness Family / Kinship Urban

[the-sakuddei--Film-image]

The Sakuddei 1974 52‘

Directed by John Sheppard .

The Sakuddei are a small and ethnically separate community living on the island of Siberut off the west coast of Sumatra in Indonesia. Their distinctive way of life and elaborate religious

South-East Asia Collective / Community identity Social Change Land Rights

[the-meo--Film-image]

The Meo 1972 52‘

Directed by Brian Moser Chris Curling .

Over the last three thousand years the Meo (Miao or Hmong) have migrated south from north and central China to avoid oppression and protect their way of life. Today they live in scattered mountain

South-East Asia War / Conflict / Reconciliation Shamans and Shamanism Ritual Social Organisation Rural

[gods-and-satans--Film-image]

Gods and Satans 2005 87‘

Directed by Martine Journet Gérard Nougarol Gabriel Chabanier .

Among the Wana people, semi nomads from the Indonesian (Sulawesi) forest, Indo Pino is a shaman recognized by everybody. Her nephew, who is also a shaman’s son, converted to Christianity some

South-East Asia Religion / Belief / Faith Shamans and Shamanism Inter-religious relations

[releasing-the-spirits-a-village-cremation-in-bali--Film-image]

Releasing the Spirits: a village cremation in Bali 1991 44‘

Directed by Patsy Asch Linda Connor Timothy Asch .

In 1978, as part of the preparations for the island-wide ceremony eka dasa rudra, religious officials urged all Balinese to cleanse the island by cremating their dead. Many were forced to pool

South-East Asia Death Ritual

[guiyang-beautiful-flavour-barbecue--Film-image]

Guiyang Beautiful Flavour Barbecue 2000 30‘

Directed by Richard Hughes .

In the teeming cities of the most populated country on earth, 20 years of economic reform have brought new opportunity, new energy, and new dangers. This film follows one family’s efforts to navigate

South-East Asia Food Social Change Labour

[indo-pino--Film-image]

Indo Pino 2002 84‘

Directed by Martine Journet Gérard Nougarol Gabriel Chabamier .

The small ethnic group of the Wana Wewaju live in Indonesia in the eastern part of Sulawesi (Celebes Island) among the dense equatorial rain forest of the Tokkala Mountains. The film documents the

South-East Asia Shamans and Shamanism Health / Health care / Healing

[fighting-for-nothing-to-happen--Film-image]

Fighting for Nothing to Happen 2015 48‘

Student Directed by Nora Wildenauer .

After the volcanic eruption of Mount Rokatenda, the people of the island of Pulau Palue in east Indonesia are to be relocated. But are the planned relocation and the "new" life at the

South-East Asia Law and Legislation / Bureaucracy Refugees / Displaced populations Development projects Disasters

[wild-honey-caring-for-bees-in-a-divided-land--Film-image]

Wild Honey: Caring for bees in a divided land 2019 30‘

Directed by Lisa Palmer .

For more than a century, the island of Timor has been divided by a colonial border. Timor’s migratory wild honey bees challenge this division. In community honey harvest rituals, queen bees are

South-East Asia Animals Food / Water Hunting / Gathering / Fishing

[contestations--Film-image]

Contestations 1996 55‘

Directed by Michael P. Vischer Thomas Richter .

The recording follows a journey from the island of Palu’e to the mainland to purchase water buffalo. Back at Palu’e, a series of sacrifices is held to make amends for transgressions. The events, part

South-East Asia Ritual

[the-day-the-sun-fell--Film-image]

The Day the Sun Fell 2015 78‘

Special Interest Directed by Aya Domenig .

Swiss-Japanese filmmaker Aya Domenig, the granddaughter of a doctor on duty for the Red Cross during the 1945 atomic bombing of Hiroshima, approaches the experience of her deceased grandfather by

South-East Asia History Memory Health / Health care / Healing War / Conflict / Reconciliation

[tyres--Film-image]

Tyres 2013 30‘

Directed by Kyaw Myo Lwin .

A recycling workshop in South Okkalapa in Myanmar’s former capital of Yangon is a place where discarded tyres are transformed from their original shape and use, and are re-purposed to new uses.

South-East Asia Material Culture Labour Infrastructure / Transport

[tayuban-dancing-the-spirit-in-java--Film-image]

Tayuban: Dancing the Spirit in Java 1996 30‘

Directed by Felicia Hughes-Freeland .

Once a year a ritual is held in a Javanese village. After a distribution of food, men dance with professional female dancers. Their allegedly sexual ethos makes these ‘tayuban’ unacceptable as

South-East Asia Ritual Dance / Theatre / Performance Sex / Sexuality Gender Role and Identity

[consulting-embah-wali--Film-image]

Consulting Embah Wali 2000 42‘

Directed by Patsy Asch .

These companion films (ANU Indonesia Series, DVD $ examine the philosophy and ritual practices of the followers of a holy man popularly known as Embah Wali. The movement, centred in Blitar, East

South-East Asia Ritual Dance / Theatre / Performance

[without-fathers-or-husbands--Film-image]

Without Fathers or Husbands 1995 26‘

Directed by Hua Cai .

The Na are an ethnic group in south-east China. Their particularity is that all the members of each household are consanguineous relatives; their social organisation is absolutely matrilineal and as

South-East Asia Family / Kinship Collective / Community identity Gender Role and Identity Sex / Sexuality

[the-most-admired-man--Film-image]

The Most Admired Man 2002 29‘

Directed by Julia Berg .

‘Wise’? ‘Serene’? ‘A Sage’? Mythologized as the Daoist physician from the Jade Dragon Mountain of Lijiang Province in southwest China , Dr Ho receives hundreds of visitors in search of the ‘Real

South-East Asia Public Figure Tourism / Travel / Pilgrimage

[house-no-15--Film-image]

House No. 15 2018 7‘

Directed by Aryo Danusiri .

Jakarta, Indonesia. Monsoon season. Children are at play in their flooded house, located in the riverside area of Ciliwung, known for its informal housing settlements. What unfolds before the camera

South-East Asia Everyday Life Children/ Young people Sensory Ethnography

[a-balinese-trance-seance--Film-image]

A Balinese Trance Séance 1980 46‘

Directed by Timothy Asch Linda Connor .

Jero Tapakan is ‘entered’ by deities and spirits who converse with her clients. Unbeknown to her, they wish to contact the spirit of their dead son to learn the cause of his death and his wishes

South-East Asia Death Possession Ritual

[the-medium-is-the-masseuse-a-balinese-massage--Film-image]

The Medium is the Masseuse: a Balinese Massage 1983 31‘

Directed by Timothy Asch Linda Connor Patsy Asch .

Jero uses massage and traditional medicines to treat Ida Bagus, who suffers from sterility and seizures. Through her treatment and her words, Jero reveals her conceptions of the human body, the

South-East Asia Health / Health care / Healing Reproduction (biology)

[jero-on-jero-a-balinese-trance-seance-observed--Film-image]

Jero on Jero: A Balinese Trance Séance Observed 1980 16‘

Directed by Timothy Asch Linda Connor Patsy Asch .

For the first time Jero sees herself on film as she watches ‘A Balinese Trance Séance’. Her spontaneous comments provide insights into her feelings while possessed, her understanding of her

South-East Asia Possession Reflexivity Health / Health care / Healing

[behind-the-screen--Film-image]

Behind the Screen 2012 35‘

Directed by Aung Nwai Htway .

A son dissects his parents’ marriage – they were film icons in 1960s Myanmar. It turns out the heartrending scenes they acted out on the silver screen are a pretty accurate reflection of their

South-East Asia Film / Photography / Mass media Family / Kinship Memory

[promise-and-unrest--Film-image]

Promise and Unrest 2010 79‘

Directed by Alan Grossman Áine O’Brien .

Separated from her daughter Gracelle at 7 months, Noemi Barredo left the Philippines for work in Malaysia before arriving in Ireland in 2000. Filmed over a five-year period, ‘Promise and Unrest’ is

South-East Asia British-Irish Isles Family / Kinship Labour Migration Linguistics / Language

[the-water-goddess-and-the-computer--Film-image]

The Water Goddess and the Computer 1989 52‘

Directed by André Singer Steven Lansing .

The film demonstrates how in Bali, development projects can threaten a carefully balanced ecological irrigation system that is maintained by temple priests. A biologist and an anthropologist look at

South-East Asia Infrastructure / Transport Development projects Environment

[the-dancer-and-the-dance--Film-image]

The Dancer and the Dance 1988 44‘

Directed by Felicia Hughes-Freeland .

This film is an invitation to see Javanese palace dancing as performed in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, and to go beyond appearances to discover what the dance means to those who continue the tradition. In

South-East Asia Dance / Theatre / Performance