Films Using the Arts for Intercultural Empathy and Respect — Eve A. Ma Media

NOTE for EDUCATIONAL & INSTITUTIONAL PURCHASERS: For “Events,” the film you choose will be available on-line for 7-10 days for your members PLUS there will be a Q&A with the filmmaker, or activity, or panel discussion.  

Of Beauty & Deities:  Music & Dance of India (1 hour.),  The dances music of this documentary come from India’sbharatanatyam tradition, an ancient art form.  In past centuries, these dancers were women tied to the Hindu temples but now, it is a secular art form.  Carefully coached by K.P. and Katherine Kunhiraman, both trained in southern India’s famous Kalaksetrh Institute the dances are skillfully performed and the dancers costumes are beautiful.  The documentary also boasts wonderful interviews by the Kunhiramans. LINK to trailer & purchase page

Yang Xiong:  Snapshot of the Refugee Experience (half-hour),  Yang Xiong is a refugee from Laos, a “product” of a war in Southeast Asia that we think of as the “Vietnam War.”   His and his community’s experiences encapsulate much of the refugee experience in general:  driven out of a homeland by a horrifying war;  spending time in an ill-equipped refugee camp;  moving to a country with a foreign language and unfamiliar customs.  Here we learn something about how Yang and his community handled this.  LINK to trailer & purchase page [soon]

Pearls from the Sea:  Music and Dance of Tahiti  (1 hr..).  Like Hawaiian dance, Tahitian dances tell stories – including the one about the “hairy white men.”  And the Tahitians dance very, very fast. We give a little background about Tahiti, but mostly we concentrate on the dancers and the dancing…and the musicians who accompany them.  Yes,  this documentary, features live musicians who are happy to  explain their instruments.  The dancers also show what a few of their movements mean, tell us some the stories behind them. They also move their hips very fast, indeed.  A fun watch.  LINK to trailer & purchase page