RAI FILM

Films

Film list

[body-games-capoeira-and-ancestry--Film-image]
Body Games - Capoeira and Ancestry 2014 87'
    Student Directed by Richard Pakleppa Matthias Röhrig Assunção Christine Dettmann .
The film follows master Cobra Mansa and his friends in the search for the African roots of the Brazilian martial art Capoeira. A powerful myth links Capoeira to a legendary Angolan game called Engolo
South America Southern Africa Dance / Theatre / Performance Music / Ethnomusicology Festivals / Carnival
[born-again--Film-image]
Born Again 2003 19'
    Directed by Carla Huysmans .
Carla last met Maureen Mulozi in 1998 in Lusaka, Zambia where they were colleagues and friends. Since then Maureen's life has changed considerably: she became a 'born again' Christian and moved to
Southern Africa Religion / Belief / Faith Inter-religious relations
[breaking-the-yard--Film-image]
Breaking the Yard 2018 21'
  Directed by Richard Werbner .
"Breaking-the-Yard" documents the court hearings and troubled affairs of a quarrelsome young couple, a stay-at-home farmer and his police constable, town-savvy wife. They claim to be still
Southern Africa Family / Kinship Gender Role and Identity Law and Legislation / Bureaucracy Love Marriage
[burying-hallelujah--Film-image]
Burying Hallelujah 2014 51'
  Directed by Richard Werbner .
Hallelujah, a 'bush mechanic' turned archbishop, gets the funeral he deserves, one of the very biggest in Botswana's railway town, Palapye. Many churches come together, their robes, splendid, their
Southern Africa Religion / Belief / Faith Death
[caught-in-between--Film-image]
Caught in Between 2016 56'
  Directed by Richard Werbner .
The focus is on a leading village elder, John Lelatlhego, a retired Human Resources administrator trained in settling disputes in the South African mines. John gets entangled in the long troubled
Southern Africa Family / Kinship Gender Role and Identity Law and Legislation / Bureaucracy Love Marriage
[encountering-eloyi--Film-image]
Encountering Eloyi 2008 56'
    Directed by Richard Werbner .
Of all the faith-healing churches in Botswana, Eloyi is the most controversial. Sensational stories in newspapers and on television have made Eloyi notorious for so-called witch-busting and for
Southern Africa Health / Health care / Healing Ritual Religion / Belief / Faith Reproduction (biology)
[gule-wamkulu-the-great-dance--Film-image]
Gule Wamkulu: The Great Dance 1991 37'
    Directed by Charles Namondwe .
Performed by the Chewa secret societies, Gule Wamkulu is a form of masked dance which takes place at male initiation ceremonies, funerals, and other major celebrations. Acting as a medium between the
Southern Africa Dance / Theatre / Performance Ritual
[heal-the-whole-man--Film-image]
Heal the Whole Man 1974 50'
    Directed by Paul Robinson .
The ‘Barolong boo Ratshidi’ are one of the group of Tswana peoples, who together form a culturally homogeneous population of over two million. The Barolong themselves number about 75’000 and
Southern Africa Religion / Belief / Faith Health / Health care / Healing
[holy-hustlers--Film-image]
Holy Hustlers 2009 53'
    Directed by Richard Werbner .
Charismatic, street-wise young men, living in Botswana’s capital, command the prophetic domain in Eloyi, their Apostolic faith-healing church, at a time of escalating crisis. Bitter, sinful
Southern Africa Religion / Belief / Faith Urban Possession
[native--Film-image]
Native 2002 29'
    Directed by Rachel Greenwood .
Through his clothing, a young South African fashion designer of mixed race urges freedom and unity in post-apartheid South Africa. His message is reaching not only his fellow South Africans, but also
Southern Africa Collective / Community identity Material Culture
[orania--Film-image]
Orania 2012 94'
    Directed by Tobias Lindner .
Orania is situated in South Africa's barren Northern Cape province. All of its 800 inhabitants are white Afrikaners. They live here on private property which was bought in 1991. People of other
Southern Africa Race / Racism / Antiracism Collective / Community identity Social Conflict
[the-ragged-ones--Film-image]
The Ragged Ones 2002 30'
  Directed by David Griggs .
The Basotho live in Lesotho, a kingdom of high mountains surrounded by South Africa. Afflicted by famine, poverty and AIDS, they carry on making a science out of their witchcraft beliefs.
Southern Africa Religion / Belief / Faith Socioeconomic conditions
[rough-aunties--Film-image]
Rough Aunties 2008 103'
  Directed by Kim Longinotto .
Jackie, Mildred, Eureka and Thuli are the women behind Bobbi Bear, a nonprofit organization based in Durban, South Africa, that counsels sexually abused children and works to bring their abusers to
Southern Africa Socioeconomic conditions Children / Young people Development projects
[shade-seekers-and-the-mixer--Film-image]
Shade Seekers and The Mixer 2006 60'
    Directed by Richard Werbner .
Set in Moremi village within Botswana’s awesome Tswapong hills, the film makes village elders self-consciously reflexive. The elders, including a controversial healer, view and discuss an earlier
Southern Africa Health / Health care / Healing Religion / Belief / Faith Informant-researcher relationship
[street-fiction--Film-image]
Street Fiction 2002 32'
    Directed by Dominic Elliot .
Through combining their own dramatic reconstructions and real life observation, this film tells the story of children who run away from their homes in search of a better life on the streets of Blantyre, Malawi.
Southern Africa Urban Squatter Settlements / Homelessness Children / Young people Ethnofiction
[seance-reflections-with-richard-werbner--Film-image]
Séance Reflections with Richard Werbner 2004 45'
    Directed by Richard Werbner .
Njebe and Martha are a childless couple living in Botswana’s capital. Seeking to recover their well-being, they consult a charismatic diviner and healer, in Njebe’s old village, Moremi. They
Southern Africa Health / Health care / Healing Ritual Reproduction (biology)