IlÉ AiyÉ (The House of Life)

Alternative title

House of Life, The

Synopsis

An impressionistic documentary by David Byrne (of Talking Heads) on Candomblé, the Brazilian spirit cult of the Bahia region. This "docu-poem" eschews all traditional documentary techniques and evokes the mood of the beautiful expressive religion of Candomblé: its life affirming rituals, rhythms, music, dress and entire culture. .Originally broadcast for the PBS show ALIVE FROM OFF CENTER, The programme was broadcast a few months before the release of Byrne’s first proper solo album, Rei Momo, which included the ILÉ AIYÉ soundtrack. The DVD includes revealing commentary by Byrne himself and a booklet containing an essay by Luc Sante and photos by Phyllis Galembo.

A religion of the Yoruba people of West Africa, Candomblé was brought to the New World during the Atlantic slave trades of the 16th century. Although forbidden to practise their native religion by the colonists, the Yoruba were able to conceal their rituals with Catholic icons, and thereby preserve their practices. ILÉ AIYÉ explores the ways in which Candomblé, an Afro-Brazilian religion, has influenced the daily life and culture of the people of Brazil. Part art film, part documentary ILÉ AIYÉ uses experimental techniques and features images of a trance-like state in which practitioners of Candomblé evoke the Orixas, deities who serve as intermediaries between mortals and the supreme forces of nature. ILÉ AIYÉ shows the symbolic manifestation of the Orixas in daily life -- in dance, food, costume and song and juxtaposes images from the worship and rituals of Candomblé with elements of Brazilian life not directly connected to religion.

The rhythms and music of the Yoruba people have influenced all popular music as we know it today. The music in ILÉ AIYÉ is partly ritual music recorded during filming of the ceremonial dances as well as popular songs influenced by Candomblé and the personalities of the Orixas and original score music by David Byrne linking images and sections. This "soundtrack" music lies aurally between field recordings of Candomblé roots music and Brazilian pop music and was recorded by Mr. Byrne and done with Brazilian musicians in Bahia and New York.

Language

English

Country

United States

Year of release

2004

Year of production

1989

Subjects

Anthropology; Media studies; Music; Religious studies

Keywords

Brazil; dance - African; documentary films; ethnomusicology; experimental film & video; religious belief and practice; rituals; trances; Yoruba

Credits

Director

David Byrne

Distribution Formats

Type

DVD

Price

£17.99

Availability

Sale

Duration/Size

50 minutes

Year

2007

Distributor

Name

Plexi

Email

info@plexi.co.uk

Web

http://plexi.co.uk/ External site opens in new window

Phone

020 8324 2400

Address

22-25 Redchurch Street
London
E2 7DJ

Notes

Plexi is an independent DVD label and distributor specialising in arts and music-related documentaries.