Unity Through Culture

Soanin Kilangit is determined to unite the people and attract international tourism through the revival of culture on Baluan Island in the South Pacific. He organizes the largest cultural festival ever held on the island. But some traditional leaders argue that Baluan never had culture. Culture comes from the white man and is now destroying their old tradition. Others, however, take the festival as a welcome opportunity to revolt against ‘70 years of cultural oppression’ by Christianity. A struggle to define the past, present and future of Baluan culture erupts to the sound of thundering log drum rhythms.

Region of Origin

Year of Release

2011

Duration

58 minutes

Format

HDV, Color

Directors

Christian Suhr Nielsen Thumbnail

Christian Suhr Nielsen

Born in Denmark in 1978, Christian Suhr Nielsen is a graduate student at the Department of Anthropology. At the University of Aarhus His main interest is visual anthropology and ethnographic film. He has produced a number of films for ethnographic and archaeological exhibitions at Moesgaard Museum.

Ton Otto Thumbnail

Ton Otto

Ton Otto is Research Leader at the Cairns Institute, James Cook University, and Professor of Anthropology at the University of Aarhus. He has conducted fieldwork in Papua New Guinea since 1986.