Stori Tumbuna: Ancestor's Tales 2011
Distributed by Documentary Educational Resources, 101 Morse Street, Watertown, MA 02472; 617-926-0491
Produced by Paul Wolffram
Directed by Paul Wolffram
DVD, color, 89 min.
Middle School - General Adult
Anthropology, Area Studies, Dance, Documentaries, Folklore, Humor, Indigenous Peoples, Music, Mythology, Native Peoples, Storytelling
Date Entered: 03/02/2017
Reviewed by Brad Eden, Ph.D., Dean of Library Services, Valparaiso UniversityThis fairly unique video features the lives, culture, dance, and music of the Lak people of the remote region of Southern New Ireland near Papua New Guinea. The film was shot by an ethnomusicologist who lived with the Lak for two years, and participated in many of their rituals and culture. Mythology and storytelling are interwoven throughout the film, as a legendary story regarding a wild man named "Song" becomes the main narrative of the film. Intrigue, fear, horror, and eventually humor come out to the viewer, illustrating how even native peoples who are isolated from the rest of the world are able to tell their story in an innovative and novel approach. The film has an official website.