Telling a Story about the Past: Fact and Fiction in Two Recent Films on the History of Anthropology

Ishi, The. Last Yahi. 1992. 57 minutes, color. Produced and directed by Jed Riffe and Pamela Roberts. Distributed by the Center for Media and Independent Learning, University of California Extension, 2000 Center Street, Fourth Floor, Berkeley, CA 94704; 510/642-0460. Fax 510/643-9271. Available in video and 16mm.
Margaret Mead: An Observer Observed. 1995.85 minutes, color. Produced by Virginia Yans-McLaughlin. Directed by Alan Berliner. Distributed by Filmakers Library, 124 East 40th Street, New York, NY l0016; 212/808-4980.     

Film reviews

Approach, Theory, and Technique in the Making of Bar Yohai¹

Bar Yohai

Anthropological Film as Celebration

Television Believers

A film by Aaron Ranen, Third Wave Media. 1986, 1/2", 3/4”, NTSC, color, 28 minutes. Distributed by Filmakers Library, Inc., 124 E. 40th Street, Suite 901, New York, NY 10016, USA, tele. 212–808–4980. Price: purchase $300, rental $55.     

Bosnia Hotel: Kenyan Warriors in Bosnia

Bosnia Hotel: Kenyan Warriors in Bosnia. 1996. 52 minutes, color. video by Thomas Balmès. For more information contact Filmmakers Library, 124 East 40th Street, New York, NY 10016(212/808-4980).     

The San Bush-People of the Kalahari

The San Bush-People of the Kalahari. 1998. 55 minutes. video by Jens Bjerre. For more information in the USA, contact Filmakers Library, 124 East 40th Street, New York, NY 10016.     

Soothsayers, Cigars and San Simon

Soothsayers, Cigars and San Simon. Copyright 1996, released in 1998. 58 minutes, color. film by Monica Zaac and Bo Ohlen. For more information, contact Filmakers Library. 124 East 40th St., New York. NY 10016.     

Film reviews

Bab el‐Oued City Bab el‐Oued City. Directed by Merzak Allouache. 1994. Algeria/ France: Les Matins Films.

Not Without My Veil Not Without My Veil: Amongst the Women of Oman. Produced by Mia Gröndahl; narration, Mia Gröndahl; camera, Allan Persson; sound, Abdalla Lamki; eds., Anders Burman and Johnny Persson; narrator, Pauline Torehall. 1993, 29 minutes, color. English. Distributed by Filmmakers Library, 124 East 40th St., New York, NY 10016.     

Chronicle of a Savanna Marriage

Chronicle of. Savanna Marriage. 1997. 56 minutes, color. video by Stig Holmqvist. Swedish (translations from Maa and Swahili) with English subtitles. For more information, contact Filmakers Library, 124 East 40th St., New York, NY 10016.     

Khalfan and Zanzibar

Khalfan and Zanzibar. 2000. 25 minutes, color. film by Lina Fruzzetti. Alfred Guzzetti. and Akos Östör. For more information, contact Filmakers Library, 124 East 40th St., New York, NY 10016; (212) 808-4980.     

Film reviews

Beirut: The Last Home Movie Produced and directed by Jennifer Fox; Camera: Alex Nepomniaschy; Sound: Jeff Brown; Editor: John Mullen; Written by Jennifer Fox and John Mullen. Distributed by Circle Releasing Corporation, 2445 M. Street, NW, Suite 225, Washington, DC 20037, USA. Telephone 202–331–3838. 1987, 120 minutes, color, 16 mm, ½” video.

Martin Chambi and the Heirs of the Incas Produced by BBC‐TV in association with Berwich Universal Films; Andy Harris and Paul Yule, directors; Jorge Vignati, camera; Christopher Swayne and Jake Auerbach, editors; production in Peru, Ester Ventura. 1986, 16mm and video, color, 50 minutes, English and Spanish narration with English subtitles. Distributed by Cinema Guild, 1697 Broadway, New York, NY 10019, tele. 212–246–5522. Price: 16mm purchase $795, rental $85; video purchase $495, rental $85.

Family Gathering Producers: Lise Yasui and Ann Tegnell; Director: Lise Yasui; Camera: Robert Yasui, Ray T. Yasui, Lise Yasui, Michael Bailey, and Gerard Hooper; Sound; Patricia Romeu, Ann Tegnell, and Daw‐Ming Lee; Editor: Ann Tegnell; Music: Sumi Tonooka; Performed by Sumi Tonooka and Ronnie Nyogetsu Seldin. 30 minutes, color, 16 mm, ½, ¾” video. Price: Sale: $450 (film); $325 (video); Rental: $60 per day/show (film); $50 per day/show (video). Distributor: New Day Films, 853 Broadway, Suite 1210, New York, NY 10003, USA, 212–477–4604.     

BOOK REVIEW

Xingú: Body and soul Body and Soul (O Corpo e os Espímtos). Directed by Mari Corréa; camera, Dado Aguiar; sound, Myaú Kayabi. 1996; 54 mins., color. Portuguese narration; English subtitles. Distributor: Les Films du village, 24–26 rue des Prairies, 75020, Paris, France.

Emancipation Efforts of African Women: Two Activist Films I Have a Problem, Madam. Directed by Maarten Schmidt and Thomas Doebele. 1995, 59 minutes, VHS, color. Distributed by First Run/Icarus Films, 153 Waverly Place, 6th Floor, New York, NY 10014. Tel: (212) 727–1711. Video rental $75, video sale $390.

These Girls are Missing: The Gender Gap in African Schools. Directed by Shari Robertson and Michael Camerini. 1996, 60 minutes, VHS, color. Distributed by Filmmakers Library, 124 East 40th Street, New York, NY 10016. Tel: (212) 808–4980. Fax: (212) 808–4983. Video rental $75, video sale $295.

Bury Me Twice Bury Me Twice—Tiwah: A Ngaju Dayak Death Ritual. Directed by Hanno Kampfmeyer and Sri Kuhnt Saptodewo; produced by Beate Engelbrecht for Institut für den Wissenschaftlichen Film, 1993; 120 mins., color; subtitles in German or English; narration in English. Distributed by IWF, Nonnenstieg 72, D‐37075 Göttingen, Germany; sale prices: 16 mm., DM 4960.80; VHS‐NTSC or VHS‐PAL, US $360.00.     

In the Shadow of Hollywood Orientalism: Authentic East Indian Dancing

Jerome Mintz Retrospective: 1968–1986 The Shoemaker. 1978, black‐and‐white, 34 minutes. Pepe's Family. 1978, black‐and‐white, 41 minutes. Perico the Bowlmaker. 1978, black‐and‐white, 45 minutes. The Shepherd's Family. 1978, black‐and‐white, 22 minutes. All produced, directed, and edited by Jerome Mintz; Camera and Sound: Jerome Mintz; Narration: Russ Salmon and Charles Vitaliano. All in Spanish with English voice‐over. 16mm and ½″ VHS video. Distributor: Documentary Educational Resources, 101 Morse Street, Watertown, MA 02172, USA, (617–926–9519).

Carnaval de Pueblo. 1987, color, 58 minutes. Produced, directed, and edited by Jerome Mintz; Camera: Jerome Mintz; Assistant Camera and Sound: Ron Hess; Assistant Editors: Michael Frisino, Carla Mintz, Maria Sendra, and Susan Schwibs; Subtitles: Elaina Frabaschi. 16 mm and ½” VHS video. Distributor: Documentary Educational Resources, 101 Morse Street, Watertown, MA 02172, USA, (617–926–9519).

Romeria: Day of the Virgin. 1986, color, 54 minutes. Produced, directed, and edited by Jerome Mintz; Camera: Jerome Mintz; Sound: Aaron Mintz; Assistant editors: Carla Mintz and Michael Frisino. 16 mm and ½″ VHS video.

An Interview with Jerome Mintz Jerome Mintz is a professor of anthropology at Indiana University, the department from which he received his Ph.D. in 1961. His main areas of interest include ethnographic film, myth and folklore, peasant society, folk religion, revitalization movements, anarchism, and Hasidism. He has conducted extensive field work in Spain as well as with Hasidic Jews in New York. While in the field in Spain, Mintz produced a large body of 16mm film footage and taped interviews between 1968 and 1971. These materials were eventually edited to produce four black‐and‐white films focusing on individuals, their families, and social networks. More recently Mintz has produced two films, Romeria: Day of The Virgin, and Carnaval de Pueblo, which have received widespread attention over the past two years. These films are all discussed in the accompanying review.

My Town—Mio Paese Produced and directed by Katherine Gulla; Camera: In Italy, Peter Sturken, in Massachusetts, Brian Dowley and Frank Lane; Sound: In Italy, Vladimir Lozinski, in Massachusetts, Francis X. Coakley, Nancy Cohen, Margo Garrison, and Dan Jones; Editor: Dan McCabe. Original languages English and Italian, English narration, English subtitles. 1986, color, 26 minutes, ½”, ¾” video. Price: Sale: $330; Rental: $35. Distributor: University of California Extension Media Center, 2176 Shattuck Avenue, Berkeley, CA 94704, USA, (415–642–0460).

Ave Maria: The Story of the Fisherman's Feast Produced and directed by Beth Harrington; Camera: Nancy Moloney, Kathy Campbell, Dave Zeland, and Nick Wakefield, 1986, color, 24 minutes, ½″, ¾” video. Price: Sale: $320; Rental: $33. Distributor: University of California Extension Media Center, 2176 Shattuck Avenue, Berkeley, CA 94704, USA, (415–642–0460).

Sophia and Her People: Eventful Lives Produced by Peter Loizos with the Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation; Directed and edited by Peter Loizos; Camera: Andros Theodora. Original language Cypriot Greek with English subtitles. 1985, color and black‐and‐white, 34 minutes, ½”, ¾” NTSC, PAL video. Distributor: Peter Loizos, Department of Anthropology, London School of Economics, Houghton Street, London WC2A 2AE, U.K.

Warriors and Maidens: Gender Relations in a Cretan Mountain Village A film by Barry Machin. 1988, color, 51 minutes, ½″ NTSC and PAL video. Sale Price: $310. Original language Greek with English narration and subtitles. Photocopy of monograph is available for $100. Distributor: Meriwa Films, 43 Meriwa Street, Perth 6009, West Australia.

Bride Market of Imilchil Produced and directed by Christian Pierce and Steffen Pierce. Camera: Christian Pierce and Steffen Pierce; Sound: Daniel Hartnett; Editors: Tom Barber, Tom Shaker, Steven Rausch; Production Coordinator: Rebecca Willis; Translator: Mohammed Rdad. 1988, color, 58 minutes, ½” and ¾” video. Distributor: Pierce Productions, 56 Ridgemont Street, Allston, MA 02134, USA, (617–254–0821).

The Kayapó “The Kayapó” (Granada Television's Disappearing World Series). Produced and directed by Michael Beckham. Executive Producer: Rod Caird; Camera: Mike Blakeley; Sound: David Woods; Editor: Paul Griffiths‐Davies; Anthropologist: Terence Turner; Research: Peter Connors; Film Dubbing: John Whitworth; Graphic Design: Valerie Pye. 1987, color, 52 minutes, 35mm. Distributor: Granada Television of England, 36 Golden Square, London W1R 4AH, UK and 1221 Avenue of the Americas, Suite 3468, New York, NY 10020, USA. “The Golden Curse of the Kayapó.” National Geographic Explorer Series. 1988. “Without Borders”. Segment on the Kayapó Indians of Brazil. Turner Broadcasting Systems. 1988. “Os Kayapós Descobrem as Barragens”. Produced and directed by Centro Ecumenico de Documentação (CEDI) and the Kayapó of Gorotire. Camera: Paiakan Kayapó. 1988, color, 120 minutes, ½″ video. Portuguese and Kayapó. Distributor: CEDI, São Paulo, S.P., Brazil.

Consider Anything, Only Don't Cry Produced, directed, and edited by Helen De Michiel; Sound: Vernon E. Norwood. 1987, 22:05 minutes, color, ½” video. Distributor: Intermedia Arts, 425 Ontario Street, SE, Minneapolis, MN 55414, USA, (612–627–4444).

A Song of Air Written, directed, and edited by Merilee Bennett; Production assistance: Australian Film Commission. 1987, 28 minutes, color, black‐and‐white, ½″ NTSC video, narration in English. Distributor: Australian Film Commission, 9229 W. Sunset Boulevard, #6515, Beverly Hills, CA, USA, (213–275–7074).

Marriage, migration and money: Mira Nair's cinema of displacement

So Far from India Produced and Directed by Mira Nair. Camera: Mitch Epstein. Sound: Alexander Griswold. Editor: Ann Schaetzel. 16mm, ½″ video. English subtitles. Distributed by Filmmaker's Library, 124 E. 40th Street, New York, NY 10016, USA, (212–808–4980). Film Price: Sale $750; Rental $75. Video Price: Sale $400.

India Cabaret Produced and Directed by Mira Nair. Camera: Mitch Epstein. Sound: Alexander Griswold. Editing: Barry Alexander Brown. 1985.16mm, ½” video, color, 60 minutes. English subtitles. Distributed by Filmmaker's Library, 124 E. 40th Street, New York, NY 10016, USA, (212–808–4980). Film Price: Sale $850; rental $85. Video Price: Sale $500.

Salaam Bombay! Produced and Directed by Mira Nair. Camera: S. Sissel. Editing: Barry Alexander Brown. Story: Mira Nair and Soom Taraporevala. Screenplay: Soom Taraporevala. 1988, 16mm, 35mm, color, 90 minutes. Distributed by Cinecom, Inc., New York.     

Reviews

The Family Album. A film by Alan Berliner. 16mm, 55min, b/w. Distributed by Filmmakers Library, Inc.

Beyond Words—Images from America's Concentration Camps. By Deborah Gesensway and Mindy Roseman. 1987, 176 pages, illustrated. Ithaca: Cornell University Press. Price: cloth $24.95.

The Lau (Granada Television “Disappearing World” Series). A film by Leslie Woodhead, producer‐director; Jon Woods, camera; Ray French, sound; Kimball Horton, editor; David Wasson, researcher; and Pierre Maranda, anthropological consultant. 1987, video, color, 52 minutes. Dialogues: Lau. Subtitles: English. Narration: English. Distributed by Granada TV International, Suite 3468, 1221 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020, tele. 212–242–2363. Price: on application.

Men's Lives: The Surfmen and Baymen of the South Fork. By Peter Matthiessen. 1986, New York: Random House. Price: hardcover $29.95; softcover $7.95 (Vintage Press); limited edition $200 (University of Washington Press, Seattle).

In Her Own Time. A film by Lynne Littman with Barbara Myerhoff. 1986, 16mm, color, 60 minutes. Distributed by Direct Cinema, Ltd., P.O. Box 69589, Los Angeles, CA 90060, tele. 213–652–8000. Price: 16mm—purchase $895, rental $100; video—purchase $350, rental $50 (prices quoted are for educational institutions only).

The Miracle of Intervale Avenue. A film by Irving Rappaport, producer; Ken Howard, director; and Jack Kugelmaas, associate producer. 1983, 16mm, color, 65 minutes. Catalog #430. Distributed by Ergo Media, Inc., P.O. Box 2037, Teaneck, NJ 07666, tele. 201–692–0404.

Some Babies Die. A film by Martyn Landon Down. Australia, 16mm, color, 54 minutes. Distributed by The University of California Extension Media Center, 2176 Shattuck Avenue, Berkeley, CA 94704, tele. 415–642–1340. Price: 16mm—purchase $850, rental $60; video—purchase $450, rental $60.

El Sebou’: The Egyptian Birth Ritual. A film by Fadwa El Guindi; produced by El Nil Research Project; co‐sponsored by the Office of Folklife, Smithsonian Institution. 1986, 16mm, color, 27 minutes. Distributed by El Nil Research Project, 1157 Beverwil Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90035, tele. 213–553–5645. Price: 16mm—purchase $570, rental $70; video—purchase $370. Screenings: Society for Visual Anthropology (1987 Award for Excellence); 1987 Margaret Mead Film Festival; Royal Anthropological Institute (1988 Commendation).

The Making of El Sebou‘

Classified People. Yolande Zauberman, director; produced by OBSESSION/INA/CNC/ FR3‐TOULOUSE; Dewald Aukema, camera; Tony Bensusan, sound; Jean‐François Naudon, editor. 1987, 16mm, color, 53 minutes. Distributed by TELEMONDIS, 15, rue Mesnil, 75016, Paris, tele. 47–27–03–84, telex: 649 078 TELMOND. In U.S., distributed by Filmmaker's Library, 124 E. 40th Street, New York, NY 10016, tele. 212–355–6545. Price: 16mm—rental only $150; video (½″ or ¾″)—purchase $75, rental $75. Screenings: Festival of Women's Films at Créteil (Prix de Jury); Festival of Young Directors at Belfort (Prix de Publique); Bilan du Film Ethnographique 1988 (Prix Nanook/Grand Prix); 1988 Cinéma du Réel; 1987 Margaret Mead Film Festival; U.S. Public Television.

To Cross the Border: An interview with Filmmaker Yolande Zauberman, Paris, May 1988.     

Anceaux's Glasses

The Kayapó (Disappearing World Series) Producer: Michael Beckham; Director: Michael Beckham; Camera: Michael Blakeley; Sound: David Woods; Editor: Paul Griffiths‐Davies; Consultant Anthropologist: Terence Turner; Distributor: Enquiries to Granada Television International, 1221 6th Avenue, Suite 3468, New York, NY 10020 USA, (212) 809–8480. 1987, 52 min., color. Original: 16mm, only available for distribution on video. Language: Original Kayapo, Narration English, Subtitles English.

Independent Films and Videos from Latin America: Producers’ Obstacles, National Diversity, and the Cultural Woes of Their Foreign Audiences Review of Democracy in Communication: Popular Film and Video in Latin America. A catalogue compilation of various videotapes. 1988, color. Original language: Spanish, English subtitles. Distributed by: Karen Ranucci, 124 Washington Place, New York, NY, tele. 212–463–9198.     

Intersections of Local and Global Processes in African Communities: On Multivocality and Context

Taxi to Timbuktu. 1994. 50 minutes. Directed by Christopher Walker. Produced by Faction Films. First Run/Icarus Films, 153 Waverly Place, New York, NY 10014. (212) 727-1711. Available in video.
Have. Problem, Madam. 1995. 59 minutes. Directed by Maarten Schmidt and Thomas Doebele. Produced by Bernard Neuhaus. First Run/Icarus Films, 153 Waverly Place, New York, NY 10014. (212) 727-1711. Available in video and 16 mm.     

Vanaja

Vanaja. Written and Directed by Rajnesh Domalpalli. Produced by Varija Films; Telugu with English subtitles, 2006; color, 110 minutes. Distributed by Emerging Pictures Corp.     

Paradoxes, Problems, and Opportunities in Zaire

Zaire: The Cycle of the Serpent. 1992. 58 minutes, color. Directed by Thierry Michel. First Run/Icarus Films, 153 Waverly Place, New York, NY 10014. (212) 727-1711.
The Last Colonials. 1995. 61 minutes, color. Directed by Thierry Michel. First Run/Icarus Films, 153 Waverly Place, New York, NY 10014. (212) 727-1711.     

From the heart of the world

From the Heart of the World—The Elder Brothers’ Warning. Director: Alan Ereira; camera: Bill Broomfield; editor: Horacio Queiro; sound: John Wills. 1990, color, 87minutes VHS‐NTSC, VHS‐PAL. English narration and subtitles. Distributed by BBC Enterprises, 80 Wood Lane, London W12 OTT; or Mystic Fire Video, 225 Lafayette Street, Suite 1206, New York 10012; sale only, £12 or $29.95 + $4.00 postage. Ereira, Alan, The Heart of the World. London: Jonathan Cape, 1990, bibliography, index, 288 pp., £15.99.     

Lafanni Selavi

Lafanni Selavi. 2000. 54 minutes, color. film by Lee Flynn. For more information, contact Cinema Guild, Inc., 130 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 0016–7038.     

The Body in the Archives: A Review of Bontoc Eulogy.

The Body in the Archives:. Review of Bontoc Eulogy. 1996. 60 minutes, black and white. video by Marlon Fuentes. For more information, contact Cinema Guild, 1687 Broadway, Suite 506, New York, NY 10019.     

Paradise Bent

Paradise Bent. 1999. 51 minutes, color. video by Heather Croall. For more information, contact Beyond Distribution, PTY LTD, 53-55 Brisbane Street, Surry Hills, NSW 2010, Sydney, Australia; or 1875 Century Park East, Suite 1320, Los Angeles, CA 90067.