Films - RAI FILM

RAI FILM

Film list

[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

[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

[atieno--Film-image]

Atieno 2018 64‘

Directed by June Ndinya Effie Awino Ruth Njoki Lavine Atieno Dorcas Akin .

Atieno is a collaborative fiction film scripted, acted and directed by DreamGirls, a group of adolescent girls and young women from Nairobi and Kisumu. The film tells of Atieno, a 16 year old girl

East Africa Health / Healthcare / Healing Children / Young people Gender Role and Identity Ethnofiction Dance / Theatre / Performance Participatory / Collaborative methods Sex / Sexuality

[ayouni--Film-image]

Ayouni 2020 75‘

Directed by Yasmin Fedda .

Bassel was a successful open source developer and hacker in Damascus. Paolo was a well-known priest based in Mar Musa monastery. Both men were active in the 2011 Syrian revolution, and witnesses to

Middle and Near East War / Conflict / Reconciliation Memory Political Activists

[the-block--Film-image]

The Block 2016 60‘

Student Directed by Maria Șalaru .

From neighbourly disputes over garlic-heavy cooking to memories of Ceaușescu’s heatless winters, "The Block" explores the rich social and material universe of a Romanian apartment

Eastern Europe and Baltic States Urban Post-communism Infrastructure / Transport

[the-body-wont-close--Film-image]

The Body Won’t Close 2020 74‘

Main Competition Directed by Mattijs van de Port .

Our bodies are semi-permeable. All over the world, stories are being told about heroes who magically “close” their bodies, so as to become invincible. This film follows one such story, as it is

South America Essay film Gender Role and Identity Folklore Reflexivity

[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

[a-colombian-family--Film-image]

A Colombian Family 2020 80‘

Main Competition Directed by Tanja Wol Sørensen .

A powerful mother-daughter drama is at the centre of this film. Rooted in disagreement—both personal and political—the film follows the consequences of a war that leaves them with an impossible

South America War / Conflict / Reconciliation Family / Kinship Gender Role and Identity Intergenerational relations Memory Migration Personal Narrative Political Activists Refugees / Displaced populations Social Conflict

[depending-on-heaven--Film-image]

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

[a-donation-to-the-museum--Film-image]

A Donation to the Museum 2015 25‘

Directed by Teri F. Brewer .

Human remains from the California Channel Islands were donated to an English city museum nearly a century ago. More recently research began into how they came to be there, and whose remains they

North America Western Europe Archaeology Archival material / Museum displays

[even-asteroids-are-not-alone--Film-image]

Even Asteroids Are Not Alone 2018 17‘

Directed by Jón Bjarki Magnússon .

Eve Online is a computer game in which players mine, trade and fight their way through computer-generated galaxies. Whilst computer game aficionados are often depicted as isolated, this game is

[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

[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

[horror-in-the-andes--Film-image]

Horror in the Andes 2019 33‘

Special Interest Directed by Martha-Cecilia Dietrich .

Horror in the Andes is a behind-the-scenes documentary that follows the process of making a horror movie in Ayacucho, Peru. Directed by audio-visual anthropologist Martha-Cecilia Dietrich, it

South America Art / Artists / Artisans Dance / Theatre / Performance Ethnofiction Film / Photography / Mass media Indigenous peoples / First Nations peoples

[it-was-tomorrow--Film-image]

IT WAS TOMORROW 2018 53‘

Student Directed by Alexandra D’onofrio .

After living in Italy for almost ten years without documents, three Egyptian men – Ali, Mahmoud and Mohamed – are suddenly awarded legal residence. As a whole new world of opportunities opens up to

Western Mediterranean Animation Art / Artists / Artisans Dance / Theatre / Performance Film / Photography / Mass media Life Story / Life History Memory Migration Research methods Participatory / Collaborative methods

[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

[kales--Film-image]

Kalès 2017 63‘

RAI Basil Wright Directed by Laurent van Lanker .

A film of wind and despair, of fire and solidarity, of hope and hell. An intimate and inside perspective of the ‘jungle’ of Calais, evoked through a polyphony of bodies, tales, and

Western Europe Migration Refugees / Displaced populations Squatter Settlements / Homelessness Participatory / Collaborative methods

[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

[knots-and-holes-an-essay-film-on-the-life-of-nets--Film-image]

Knots and Holes. An Essay Film on the Life of Nets. 2018 74‘

Special Interest Directed by Mattijs van de Port .

A singular anthropological essay film that observes the various nets we find across different contexts in Bahia (from fishing nets to delicate nets of lace), and the emotions and sensations

South America Essay film Reflexivity Love

[my-eyes-as-a-stranger--Film-image]

My Eyes as a Stranger 1984 53‘

Directed by Toni de Bromhead .

This film tells the story of the friendship between an English filmmaker and Nicola, a Sicilian ex-gangster who lives in Florence. The film moves to and fro between a street of ill repute, and the

South-East Europe Gender Role and Identity

[nkabom-a-little-medicine-a-little-prayer--Film-image]

Nkabom: A little medicine A little prayer 2021 79‘

Werbner Award Directed by Erminia Colucci .

A mother is caring for her son at a healing shrine on the edge of a village in the central belt of Ghana. In another village, a father has taken his son to several Christian and traditional healers

West Africa Health / Health care / Healing Religion / Belief / Faith

[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

[palimpsest-of-the-africa-museum--Film-image]

Palimpsest of the Africa Museum 2019 69‘

Directed by Matthias De Groof .

In 2013, the Royal Museum for Central Africa in Brussels (Belgium) closed for renovation. It is not only the building and the museum cabinets that are in need of renewal: the spirit of the museum has

Western Europe Archival material / Museum displays Colonialism / Postcolonialism Race / Racism / Antiracism Education / Knowledge Transmission History of Anthropology

[persistence--Film-image]

Persistence 2019 54‘

Main Competition Directed by Anne Huffschmid Jan-Holger Hennies .

Human bodies don’t simply disappear. They were kidnapped, buried, broken into pieces. But they are also searched for, recovered and if forensic experts achieve the unlikely, reconstructed as

Central America Forensic Memory

[the-possibility-of-spirits--Film-image]

The Possibility of Spirits 2016 72‘

Directed by Mattijs van de Port .

What is it that you film when you film a spirit? I was brought up to believe that spirits do not exist. Years of research on an afro-Brazilian spirit possession cult taught me the limits of such

South America Essay film Religion / Belief / Faith Reflexivity

[processes--Film-image]

Processes 2016 23‘

Directed by Adriana Ferrarese .

Like every year, Corigliano Calabro, a small village in the south of Italy, celebrates Easter: from the investiture of a man to embody Jesus during a night procession, to the passionate debates for

South-East Europe Religion / Belief / Faith Festivals / Carnival

[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

[ringtone--Film-image]

Ringtone 2014 30‘

Directed by Jennifer Deger Paul Wunungmurra .

Yolngu Aboriginal families offer glimpses into their lives and relationships through their choice of ringtones. From ancestral clan songs to 80s hip hop artists and local gospel tunes, these songs

Australia Indigenous peoples / First Nations peoples Music / Ethnomusicology Material Culture

[suspension--Film-image]

Suspension 2019 73‘

Werbner Award Directed by Simón Uribe .

This film documents the building of a modern road through the imposing geography of southern Colombia. It brilliantly captures some of the absurdities and contradictions of a construction project

South America Development projects Infrastructure / Transport Material Culture Rural

[totegrandfather--Film-image]

TOTE_Grandfather 2019 80‘

Main Competition Directed by María Sojob .

This film portrays an unexpected encounter between an old Tzotzil man, who is going blind, and his granddaughter, who does not remember her childhood well. The granddaughter, having grown up in the

Central America Indigenous Filmmaking Gender Role and Identity Family / Kinship Indigenous peoples / First Nations peoples Elderly people Love Intergenerational relations Linguistics / Language Memory

[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

[this-is-my-face--Film-image]

This is My Face 2018 57‘

Student Directed by Angélica Cabezas Pino .

In Chile, people living with HIV fear stigma, and often conceal their condition and remain silent about what they are going through. This is My Face explores what happens when a range of men living

South America LGBTQI* Participatory / Collaborative methods Health / Health care / Healing Gender Role and Identity Film / Photography / Mass media Memory Life Story / Life History Art / Artists / Artisans

[travel-double-screen--Film-image]

Travel (double screen) 2016 63‘

Directed by Nick Mai .

(This version of the film uses a split-screen device throughout. For the single screen version see ‘Travel’). Joy left Nigeria to help her family after her father’s death. She knew that she was

Western Europe Sex / Sexuality Labour Migration Ethnofiction Reflexivity

[treasured-moments--Film-image]

Treasured Moments 2016 33‘

Student Directed by Ravi Hart Lloyd .

This is the personal story of a boy who grew up mixed in every aspect of his life, his parents, where he was from, his race. The black kid who thought that he was white. The white kid who thought

Caribbean Islands North America Family / Kinship Race / Racism / Antiracism Collective / Community identity Film / Photography / Mass media

[uma-a-water-crisis-in-bolivia--Film-image]

Uma: a water crisis in Bolivia 2020 76‘

Directed by Ana 𝗟𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲𝗿 .

Uma: a water crisis in Bolivia tells the story of three Andean indigenous communities in the highlands of Bolivia who are fighting to protect their water from diversion and contamination amid a

South America Environment Food / Water Gender Role and Identity Indigenous peoples / First Nations peoples Land Rights Political Activists Resistance Rural Social Conflict

[unwritten-letters--Film-image]

Unwritten Letters 2020 59‘

Directed by Max Bloching Abd Alrahman Dukmak .

Abd is a 24-year-old Syrian who took part in the early days of the 2011 revolution and now lives in Padova, Italy. Together with his German friend Max he is working on a film called Unwritten

South-East Europe Middle and Near East Migration Refugees / Displaced populations Participatory / Collaborative methods Life Story / Life History

[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

[why-is-mr-w-laughingij--Film-image]

Why is Mr W. Laughing? 2017 76‘

Directed by Jana Papenbrook .

Jana Papenbroock with Horst Wässle, Michael Gerdsmann, Bernhard Krebs WHY IS MR W. LAUGHING? is a portrait of three members of a community of artists with different disabilities. Rather than

Western Europe Art / Artists / Artisans Collective / Community identity Elderly people Health / Health care / Healing Life Story / Life History Personal Narrative Social participation

[wives--Film-image]

Wives 2017 85‘

RAI Basil Wright Directed by Lisbet Holtedahl .

Alhajji Ibrahim is an Islamic scholar who has served as judge at the Sultanate of Ngaoundéré in Northern Cameroon for 46 years. The film follows Alhajji during the last years of his life, focusing

West Africa Family / Kinship Everyday Life Gender Role and Identity Marriage Personal Narrative Religion / Belief / Faith Social Norms

[wasi--Film-image]

Wási 2017 16‘

Shorts Directed by Sebastián Gómez Ruíz Amado Villafaña Chaparro .

As the sun rises on a village in northern Colombia, we glimpse its inhabitants as they begin their day. As the scene emerges from obscurity, a voiceover reflects on the nature of sight. It is the

South America Indigenous peoples / First Nations peoples Indigenous Filmmaking History of Anthropology Film / Photography / Mass media