UNITY THROUGH CULTURE
58 min, colour, english subtitles
A film by Christian Suhr and Ton Otto © Moesgaard Film 2011
Synopsis of the film
Soanin Kilangit is determined to unite the people and attract international tourism through the revival of culture on Baluan Island in the South Pacific. He organizes the largest cultural festival ever held on the island. But some traditional leaders argue that Baluan never had culture. Culture comes from the white man and is now destroying their old tradition. Others, however, take the festival as a welcome opportunity to revolt against '70 years of cultural oppression' by Christianity. A struggle to define the past, present and future of Baluan culture erupts to the sound of thundering log drum rhythms.
Awarded with
The Intangible Culture Film Prize
+
The Richard Werbner Award for Visual Ethnography
Royal Anthropological Institute
(London, June 2011)
World Premiere
Future Screenings
IUAES/AAS/ASAANZ
Conference 2011
(Perth, July 2011)
(St Andrews, August 2011)
The International Festival for Ethnological Film
(Belgrade, October 2011)
American Anthropological Association Meeting
(Montreal, November 2011)