The Devil and the Holy Water

Synopsis

For centuries, exorcism has been a daily practice in the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. But as Ethiopia has undergone extensive social change, exorcism has been revolutionized. New problems produce new demons, and new demons require dramatic new rituals. Shot in Addis Abeba, ‘The devil and the holy water’ is a short documentary that portrays exorcisms conducted by the controversial priest Mehmer Girma, whose charisma gathers hundreds of people from across Ethiopia and around the world. Narrated by a woman exorcized by Mehmer Girma, the film gives an intimate account of the reality of demonic affliction in modern Ethiopian life.

View film website