Festive Land: Carnaval in Bahia
- WorldFest Remi Award
- African Studies Assn. honoree
- African Literature Assn. honoree
48 min
Available as: VHS and DVD
Distributor: Berkeley Media
Catalog #: 0089
www.berkeleymedia.org
phone: (510)486-9900
Festive Land explores the rich fabric of Bahian carnival from the points of view of four people of different social classes and backgrounds. Commentary is also provided by noted Brazilian artists, leaders, and scholars.
Grammy winner Gilberto Gil gives a personal account of his participation in the quasi-religious afoxe group, Filhos de Gandhi. Daniela Mercury, one of the biggest pop stars in Brazil, discusses the varied influences shaping contemporary Bahian Carnaval music. Antonio Carlos dos Santos (Vovô), founder of the group Ilê Aiyê, explains the significance of afro-centric Carnaval groups called "blocos afros," and describes how racism is reflected in the social dynamics of the celebration.
Reviews:
"Refreshingly, this film explodes the long-running myth that Carnaval subverts the racial and class hierarchies that trouble Bahia and Brazil during the rest of the year. The film is not only beautifully picturesque and musical, but also sociologically smart." -- James Matory, Prof. of Anthropology and Afro-American Studies, Harvard Univ.
"Through observational footage and a series of fascinating and eclectic interviews, the video represents some of the complex cultural, class, and racial dynamics that underlie Carnaval celebrations in Bahia. At the same time it is both accessible and entertaining." -- Irina Leimbacher, Artistic Co-Director, San Francisco Cinematheque, and Lecturer in Anthropology, UC Berkeley
"This engaging film can be used effectively in anthropology courses dealing with Latin America, religion, performance, and gender and sexuality. It also is appropriate for introductory cultural anthropology. The film raises interesting issues of cultural diversity, gender, race, and class, as it conveys the spirit of play, pleasure, and energy that permeates Carnaval in Bahia." -- Prof. Kathleen Zaretsky, Dept. of Anthropology, San Jose State Univ.
Credits:
Producer/Director/Editor - Carolina Moraes-liu
Associate Producer/Etnographic Consultant- Lisa Earl Castillo
Associate Producer - Delicia Hegwood
Production Associate - Katlen Schutt