Ngaben: Emotion & Restraint in a Balinese Heart 2012
Distributed by Documentary Educational Resources, 101 Morse Street, Watertown, MA 02472; 617-926-0491
Produced by Robert Lemelson
Directed by Robert Lemelson
DVD, color, 16 min.
Middle School - General Adult
Death, Dying, Family Relations, Festivals, Grief, Social Behavior, Storytelling
Date Entered: 03/06/2017
Reviewed by Brad Eden, Ph.D., Dean of Library Services, Valparaiso UniversityThis short film shows the Balinese cremation ceremony known as ngaben, little known in the West but a very dramatic spectacle for those who participate as well as those who watch. The viewer is provided the perspective of this ceremony from Nyoman Asub, a mourning son who goes through the long process from the death of his loved one to the cremation ceremony itself. A 13-page study guide, which is very helpful when viewing and discussing the film, is available online. A great film to illustrate cultural and religious diversity, as well as the process of death and dying in a culture different from those in the Western hemisphere.