The Spirit of the Ancestors
(Te Kuhane o te Tupuna: El espíritu de los ancestros)
Leonardo Pakarati | Documentary
2015 | 63 minutes | Chile
Three generations of the Pakarati family travel to Europe to reclaim the Stolen Friend - one of Rapa Nui's (Easter Island) sacred spirits - which was stolen by colonizers and is one of the countless sacred objects housed in museums worldwide.
Synopsis
The Spirit of the Ancestors tells the story of Moia Hoa Haka Nana’ia, one of Rapa Nui's (Easter Island) sacred spirits, also known as the Stolen Friend in the island. Colonizers took the massive, iconic carving 100 years ago, and is now one of the countless living objects now housed in museums worldwide.
For the Rapa Nui, the Moia is infused with Mana, the power essential to their lives and well-being. His absence from the island – where he watched over them with his kin – threatens their survival as the link between spirit and people weakens over time. Worse still, the younger generations’ link to their ancestors is at risk.
This documentary follows three generations of the Pakarati family as they travel to Europe to try to reclaim the Stolen Friend, bring his spirit home and ensure a strong future for those to come.
Reviews
"[The film's] main value lies in the fact that it is the Rapa Nui who create the discourse and, although they include the perspective of scholars and experts, most importantly the actual voices of the ancestors give weight to the film." — Antonella Estévez, Diario UChile
"Pakarati's use of archival material throughout the film is powerful and creates a lasting impression of his family's roots and that of the Rapa Nui people while shedding light on the island's present state and its trajectory towards the future." — Documentary Drive
"Spirit of the Ancestors does a great job of trying to educate viewers on the past and the current social and political implications of the island without being too overwhelming." — Documentary Drive
Citation
Main credits
Pakarati, Leonardo (film director)
Pakarati, Leonardo (screenwriter)
Rossetti, Paula (film producer)
Other credits
Cinematography, Guillermo Bravo; editor, Diego Macho Gómez; music, Yoyo Tuki.
Citation
Cataloging
Pragda subjects
Activism
Anthropology
Criminal Justice
Culture + Identity
Economics + Social Class Issues
Family
Indigenous Peoples
Latin American Studies
Religion + Spirituality
South America
Visual Arts
Keywords
Clips
Festivals
Valdivia International Film Festival
imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival
Arica Nativa Film Festival
Chiloe Documentary Film Festival
International Indigenous Film Festival of Wallmapu
Pasifika Film Fest Australia
DIRECTOR: Leonardo Pakarati
NATIONALITY: Chile
YEAR: 2015
GENRE: Documentary
LANGUAGE: Spanish; Indigenous languages
COLOR / B&W: Color
GRADE LEVEL: High School, College, Adults
SUBTITLE/CC: AVAILABLE
AUDIO DESCRIPTION: NOT AVAILABLE
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