In Search of Voodoo

In Search of Voodoo Film Difficulty Ranking: 1

Why Watch In Search of Voodoo?

  • For an introduction to Voodoo culture
  • If you like to learn about world cultures
  • To see the effect of colonialism on local culture
From: Benin, Africa
Watch: Trailer, JustWatch, Hoopla, Kanopy, Tubi, Amazon Prime
Next: Batuque, Golden Fish, African Fish, N!ai
Continue reading “In Search of Voodoo – An Educational Documentary of Voodoo Culture”
The Grand Marriage

The Grand Marriage Film Difficulty Ranking: 3

Why Watch The Grand Marriage?

  • Check out one of the biggest cultural traditions of Comoros
  • It’s told by the locals
  • It’s only 48 minutes long
From: Comoros, Africa
Watch: YouTube, AlJazeera
Next: Batuque, In Search of Voodoo, Flesh Out

A made for TV Documentary

How can you tell that The Grand Marriage is a made for TV documentary? Well, besides from the obvious signs: that it’s made by a TV news network (Al Jazeera), and fits into an hour long TV segment with room for a small commercial break in the middle, you can also tell in the way that it’s made. For example, it starts with an opening introductory montage of shots from scenes to come later in the film. It’s there to try and grab the attention of any TV viewers currently watching the network in an attempt to get them to stay to watch the whole show. The content is also aimed at the armchair traveler. Just as the opening montage gives viewers a flavor of the documentary to come, the informative content is designed to appeal to viewers interested in world news and culture: those likely to be on the Al Jazeera channel. The level of detail and specificity is not necessarily something that viewers would otherwise directly seek out at the cinema or on streaming services.

Told by the Locals

One thing that makes The Grand Marriage standout versus other TV documentaries, is that it’s told completely by the locals. There’s no narrator, and therefore no one serving as a mediator to translate the locals words into something more palatable to our own customs. It allows the Comoran people to present their customs and culture from their own point of view, unchallenged by a foreign perspective. We’re the only one who can judge and interpret them. That being said, that does not mean that the documentary is completely free of bias. It could be that the people speaking are all from a particular class or background that gives us a less rounded view of Comoran culture. The groom, for example is a former government minister. But it does give the locals the power to represent themselves.

what’s so special about the grand marriage?

The Grand Marriage is worth a watch because it gives viewers an insight into Comoran culture through one of it’s biggest cultural customs. The grand marriages are the status builders of Comoran society. Plus they involve a lost of Comoran society – as you can see from the incredible number of attendees. The documentary doesn’t just show the main event, but all the preparatory ceremonies that go with it. It also gathers a range of voices to comment on the ceremony, from the bride and groom to be themselves, to the whole community involved to give a balanced perspective. So if you’re interested in learning a bit about Comoran culture, this is a good film to start with.

What to Watch Next

If you want to watch more cultural documentaries from Africa, check out Batuque, a look at music from the Cape Verde islands. You could also check out In Search of Voodoo from Benin, which looks at the west African voodoo culture.

Or if you’d like to see some more films centered around marriage, check out Saudi Runaway, featuring a Saudi girl trying to escape from an arranged marriage, or Flesh Out, featuring a Mauritanian woman bulking up for her groom.

Family from First They Killed My Father

First They Killed My Father Film Difficulty Ranking: 2

If you’re looking for an accessible account of the Cambodian Genocide, this film might be for you. First They Killed My Father depicts life under the horrific Khmer Rouge through the eyes of a 6 year old girl based on the book of the same name. Whilst it’s not as memorable as the book or other films on the subject, it’s the most accessible – it’s easy to watch and it’s on Netflix!

From: Cambodia, Asia
Watch: Trailer, Netflix
Next: Hotel Rwanda, Beasts of No Nation, The Missing Picture
Continue reading “First They Killed My Father – Genocide as Seen by a Child”
Yasmine

Yasmine Film Difficulty Ranking: 2

Why Watch Yasmine?

  • For the emotional ups and downs of life in High School
  • If you like martial arts revenge stories (Ip Man, Enter the Dragon, Furie)
  • For a dream team of coaches for a bit of added comedy
From: Brunei, Asia
Watch: Trailer, Hoopla, Kanopy, Tubi, JustWatch
Next: Sepet, Dhalinyaro, Bad Genus
Continue reading “Yasmine – A High School Love Rivalry with Martial Arts”
N!ai

N!ai Film Difficulty Ranking: 2

Indigenous Batswana films aren’t easy to find, so if you know of any, please contact me here. In the meantime, check out N!ai, the Story of a !Kung Woman (the exclamation marks represent click sounds). It’s a documentary made by an American anthropologist, so it’s by no means a true Batswana film. However, you will get to see the impact of the white government on the independence of the !Kung people as portrayed through the life of a !Kung woman named N!ai.

From: Botswana, Africa
Watch: Trailer, Kanopy, Rent on Vimeo
Next: Another Country, Black Girl, Smoke Signals
Continue reading “N!ai, the Story of a !Kung Woman Before and After Independence”