BUNONG GUU OH/BUNONG´S BIRTH PRACTICES
Switzerland/Cambodia, 2010, 50 min
Tommi Mendel, Brigitte Nikles
28.01.2011 19:10
On the basis of a social anthropological case study, this film documents the birth practices of the Bunong in Mondulkiri province, located in the northeast of Cambodia. Social, economic and political changes are transforming the province tremendously and are affecting villagers´ beliefs, perceptions and habits regarding pregnancy, delivery and early motherhood. Traditional midwives, pregnant women, mothers and their families give a personal insight into their present decision-making strategies, which are at the crossroads between tradition and modernity.
Directors: Tommi Mendel, Brigitte Nikles
Tommi and Brigitte both studied Anthropology at the University of Zurich. Currently Brigitte is working in Mondulkiri in Cambodia to establish a Bunong Cultural Centre and Tommi is working on his PhD with the means of Ethnographic Film.
Production: Tigertoda productions, Zurich, Switzerland
Camera, Edit: Tommi Mendel
The movie was projected on various world film festivals (selection):
NAFA International Ethnographic Film Festival, Aarhus, Denmark 2010
International Festival of Visual Anthropology Mediating Camera, Moscow, Russia 2010
Cambodia International Film Festival, Phom Phen, Cambodia 2010
International Festival of Ethnological Film, Belgrade, Serbia 2010
Contro-Sguardi International Anthropological Film Festival, Perugia, Italy 2010
Athens Ethnographic Film Festival, Greece 2010
Language of dialogues: Bunong, Khmer
Language of subtitles:Czech, English
Filip is a student at Mac Brod Gymnasium. He stays at the dormitory. Alija is a good friend of him at school. But they relate to different religions and that separate them not only during lunch-breaks at school, but all the time outside school. Filip spends his weekends in his home village Samokov, collecting mushrooms for sale and helping his grandparents and his mother in her small shop. Alija commutes everyday from his home village Plasnica.
Anthony and Robert – youngsters from Nairobi – give insight into their everyday life. With a film camera they document and comment the life on the streets and in the Halfway Centre. Thereby, not only their trials and tribulations are expressed but also their sense of humor and their plans for the future, which are full of hope: Moving images which convince through their authenticity. By handing over the camera to the two protagonist, a dynamic change of perspectives is established. This renders possible a differentiated examination of the subject matter as well as the proceedings of the film.
