Bridewealth for a Goddess
- Synopsis
- Documents the last performance of the ritual for the fertility goddess Amb Kor. Shot over a period of 15 years, the anthropologists/filmmakers have been participant-observers durng a time of pivotal change for the clans of the Kawelka people in the western highlands of Papua, New Guinea. The film is narrated by the headman, Ru, who speaks about the clan’s recent problems, infant mortality, and decision to return to previously abandoned tribal territories. The arrival of the ancient female spirit Amb Kor comes to him in a dream and he is convinced that in order to regain their former strength and health the clans must perform this ritual for the goddess. After much debate, anyone who has been baptized in the Christian church is forbidden to take part in the ritual. Meat distribution, clan alliances and the symbolic brideweath for the goddess are observed.
- Language
- English
- Country
- Great Britain
- Medium
- Video; Videocassette. VHS. col. 72 min.
- Year of production
- 2000
- Availability
- Sale; 2001 sale: £50.00 (+VAT +p&p)
- Subjects
- Anthropology; Religious studies
- Keywords
- Papua New Guinea; religious rituals
Credits
- Director
- Chris Owen
- Contributor
- Andrew Strathern
Distributor
- Name
Royal Anthropological Institute
- Contact
- Susanne Hammacher (Film Officer)
- film@therai.org.uk
- Web
- https://www.therai.org.uk/film/film-sales External site opens in new window
- Phone
- 020 7387 0455
- Fax
- 020 7388 8817
- Address
- 50 Fitzroy Street
London
W1T 5BT - Notes
- The Institute sells more than 250 anthropology and ethnology titles on video and DVD, including some produced by students and staff of the Granada Centre for Visual Anthropology. There is also a large library of internationally produced film and video productions from which items may be borrowed within the UK.
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