The shark callers of Kontu / [directed and produced by Dennis O'Rourke].

Format:

Video

Contributor:

O'Rourke, Dennis, director, producer, narrator.

Series:

Academic Video Online

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Ethnology--Papua New Guinea--Kontu Island.

Ethnology.

Sharks--Papua New Guinea--Kontu Island--Religious aspects.

Sharks.

Kontu Island (Papua New Guinea)--Social life and customs.

Kontu Island (Papua New Guinea).

Genre:

Documentary films.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (52 minutes)

Place of Publication:

Cairns, Queensland : Camerawork Pty, 1982.

Language Note:

In English.

Original language in English.

System Details:

data file

Summary:

In a remote corner of Papua New Guinea, there is an ancient tradition of sharkcalling, wherein a select few possess the magic to trap and kill sharks with their bare hands. The villagers believe that sharks carry the spirits of their ancestors, and sharkcallers spend days preparing for the sacred ritual of calling these meaningful creatures. Legendary documentarist Dennis O'Rourke lived in Kontu for 6 months, and gained the trust of the local villagers. 2 sharkcallers invited him to train as a sharkcaller himself, and he immersed himself in their rituals and customs, while documenting it all. Like his many other films, O'Rourke does more than just document his surroundings; he masterfully juxtaposes this ancient practice against the influx of western customs, and leaves the viewer to reach their own judgments about imperialism and the erosion of island cultures. The film captures the reality that when the last sharkcaller dies, this ritual will die with him. This moving documentary is one of O'Rourke's most acclaimed films and is a vital part of his legacy.

Notes:

Title from resource description page (viewed September 24, 2015).

OCLC:

925845855