Rough Cut from “Loose Spirits” – Vegetarian Festival sequence Part A
“Loose Spirits” is the title of a documentary film (in progress!) about spirit possession rituals in South East Asia. Footage was shot in 2002 – 2004 in Myanmar, Thailand, and Bali. It documents practices within the animist cult of “Nat Pwe” that exists alongside Buddhism in Myanmar, the infamous “Vegetarian Festival” that is an exaggerated holdover of Taoist folk rituals held annually in Southern Thailand, and also shows classic trance rituals of Hindu Bali performed at the time of the “Bali Bombing”. The film intends to be a comparison of cultures and religions, modernity and tradition, as well as a celebration of the rich and strange pageantry of spirit possession.
In this film I will advance the thesis that spirit possession is an expression of “living myths”, that is to say mythical symbols that are concentrated with such potent power that they have the ability to come to life in the trance medium’s mind and body. Exploring the mythology that informs the rituals I will show how compelling symbols endure to provide modern societies with an effective means of healing, exorcism, self-expression, and celebration through these symbols of divine power.
Rough Cut from “Loose Spirits” – Vegetarian Festival sequence Part B
Rough Cut from “Loose Spirits” – Vegetarian Festival sequence Part C
“Loose Spirits” is the title of a documentary film (in progress!) about spirit possession rituals in South East Asia. Footage was shot in 2002 – 2004 in Myanmar, Thailand, and Bali. It documents practices within the animist cult of “Nat Pwe” that exists alongside Buddhism in Myanmar, the infamous “Vegetarian Festival” that is an exaggerated holdover of Taoist folk rituals held annually in Southern Thailand, and also shows classic trance rituals of Hindu Bali performed at the time of the “Bali Bombing”. The film intends to be a comparison of cultures and religions, modernity and tradition, as well as a celebration of the rich and strange pageantry of spirit possession.
In this film I will advance the thesis that spirit possession is an expression of “living myths”, that is to say mythical symbols that are concentrated with such potent power that they have the ability to come to life in the trance medium’s mind and body. Exploring the mythology that informs the rituals I will show how compelling symbols endure to provide modern societies with an effective means of healing, exorcism, self-expression, and celebration through these symbols of divine power.
