Young Man's Dream and a Woman's Secret
Filmmaker Philip Haas traveled to the southernmost tip of Madagascar to meet Efiaimbelo, a man in his mid-sixties who works as a funerary sculptor. The film follows Efiaimbelo as he travels to an isolated area in the countryside to cut down a special tree for sculpting. He makes it into a pole of geometric shapes, which he then tops with a finely honed sculpture of a cow. This beautiful sculpture is funerary piece, designed to ornament a grave. The film features remarkable footage of huge tombs covered with cow antlers and poles like the one we see Efiaimbelo sculpt. The tops of these poles are decorated with all sorts of animals, people and tableaux associated with the dead person. Very little has been known or seen of this funereal and artistic tradition outside the region and the film provides an extraordinarily rich visual experience.
Directed by Philip Haas
Make it a double feature
1h 36m together
Young Man's Dream and a Woman's Secret
Stones and Flies: Richard Long in the Sahara
Both from Philip Haas.
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Magicians of the Earth: The Giant Woman and the Lightning Man · 1992
American Playhouse · 1982
The Music of Chance · 1993
Angels and Insects · 1995
Lathe of Heaven · 2002
The Situation · 2007
Up at the Villa · 2000
The Blood Oranges · 1997
The World of Gilbert & George · 1981
Seni's Children · 1992
Gilbert and George The Singing Sculpture · 1991More Like This
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