Choose ONE of the following films for your Film and Research Essay.

The Devil Came on Horseback
Cannibal Tours
Lost Boys of Sudan
Sakuddei of Indonesia
Mountains of Gold
War Dance
Voices of the Forest

Synopses of the Films:

“The Devil Came on Horseback”: By now, everyone has heard something about the genocide in Darfur (Sudan), but most people don’t know exactly what it’s all about. This is a wonderful, informative documentary that will help you understand why there is genocide going on there, and you will be frustrated at the difficulty one American had in trying to do something to help. WARNING: This is a very disturbing film, with very graphic images of death. I showed this film in one of my graduate seminars, and many students were moved to tears.

“Cannibal Tours”: This is a documentary about a group of international tourists (mostly European and American) taking a cruise on a New Guinea River. You get to hear lots of ethnocentric comments by the various tourists, as well as see the way they interact with local people when the boat stops to let them shop for souvenirs. The film also includes some comments by local people, who are upset when the seemingly “rich” tourists want to try to talk down the prices (already low) to get the best deal. Really makes you think! The title refers to the fact that at one time, some New Guinea native groups (as well as other indigenous groups on Borneo, etc.) did practice some form of cannibalistic behavior. For tourists, this is the height of “exotic.”

“Lost Boys of Sudan”: This is a documentary about Sudanese refugees and their experiences after being brought to the U.S. to begin new lives. We read about the Nuer, who also have “lost boys” who have emigrated to the United States. The Nuer and Dinka were neighboring tribes, both centered on cattle-herding, and although they are distinct cultures, their traditions were roughly similar. Historically, Dinka and Nuer raided each other’s cattle, and sometimes adopted members of each other’s tribes.

“The Sakkudai of Indonesia”: This is a film about one of the indigenous groups living on an island that is now part of the nation of Indonesia. Not only will you find it interesting to learn about this group’s traditional life ways, you will also get an idea about some of the important challenges to maintaining that lifestyle faced by the Sakkudai as the nation of Indonesia seeks to become competitive in global markets by exploiting resources even in places like the island where the Sakkudai live, and to have all of the nation’s diverse citizens conform to some extent with mainstream norms.

“Mountains of Gold”: Another film about Papua New Guinea highlanders, with a twist. A huge international mining corporation establishes a gold mine and hires local people. Contrary to many situations you hear about, the company actually goes to great efforts to negotiate fair payments for land. However, due to the existing traditions of the Papuans, some of this backfires. [If you have seen the film “Ongka’s Big Moka,” you will recognize in “Mountains” how that old negotiating style Ongka used is now used to deal with the mining corporation. If you want to see Ongka for comparison, let me know–I can give you the link for it.] Great examples of the sweeping changes in culture, lifestyle, and environment that occur as a result of the Papuans’ decision to allow access to the mining corporation.

War Dance [kids in Africa, orphaned by war]

“Set in war-ravaged Northern Uganda, the Oscar-nominated WAR DANCE will touch your hear with a real-life story about a group of children whose love of music brings joy, excitement and hope back into their poverty-stricken lives. Three children who have suffered horrific brutalities momentarily forget their struggles as they participate in music, song and dance at their school. Invited to compete in a prestigious music festival in their nation’s capitol, their historic journey is a stirring tale about the power of the human spirit to triumph against tremendous odds.” [this is the synopsis quoted from the back of the DVD]

Voices in the Forest [the Baka]

You all watched that great movie “The Baka.” Here is a later film, also by National Geographic, with more on how the modern world and economic development is impacting traditional culture and lifeways. Here is the synopsis from the DVD: “The dense, mysterious rain forest of Central Africa’s Congo River Basin is home to the Baka people and a complex variety of plants and animals. But the logging of its old-growth timber by outside interests could endanger the rain forest itself, threaten Baka villages, and have an adverse impact on a local business.