A documentary film about Haitian vodou.A documentary film about Haitian vodou.A documentary film about Haitian vodou.
- Directors
- Writers
- Stars
John Genke
- Narrator
- (voice)
- Directors
- Maya Deren(original footage)
- Cherel Ito(1985 production)
- Teiji Ito(original footage)
- Writers
- Maya Deren
- Cherel Ito(1985 narration)
- Teiji Ito
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaAfter her second divorce, Maya Deren began making trips to Haiti, observing and filming Voudoun rituals and dance, and eventually becoming very involved in Voudoun herself. In 1951, she began a relationship with a 25-year-old Japanese musician, Teiji Ito. Deren was 43 and became both mentor and lover to Ito. They lived in New York and he followed her on her trips to Haiti. By the time Deren had completed filming in Haiti in the mid-1950's, she had shot more than 18,000 feet of film but never completed the editing. She died in 1961 and the unedited Haitian footage was finally edited in the 1980's by her widowed husband, Teiji Ito, and his new wife, Cherel. With a soundtrack by Ito, the completed footage was released in 1985 as this film. Later that year, the American Film Institute established the Maya Deren Award for independent film making.
- ConnectionsFeatured in Friday the 13th: The Series: The Voodoo Mambo (1988)
Featured review
A fascinating look at a culture (if arguably distracted by technique)
There are few religions or systems of belief that are more misrepresented in culture, and generally misunderstood, than vodou. It's deeply gratifying when an earnest exploration of the practices do enter some degree of public consciousness, as was true for Wade Davis' book 'The serpent and the rainbow' - though nothing exemplifies the problem of how vodou is perceived more than Wes Craven's horror film of the same name. While Maya Deren's documentary languished in limbo for years after the footage was obtained, and still more years after her death, 'Divine horsemen' also represents another fine example of individuals taking a scholarly approach toward honest depiction. The point could be argued that in light of Deren's own especial enchantment with the beliefs the movie lacks total objectivity, but by the same token this may have allowed more in-depth investigation, and regardless, her intent remained pure. By no means is this a perfect or essential feature for all comers, but particularly for anyone with even a passing interest in vodou, it's well worth checking out.
The brevity of this documentary is unfortunate insofar as even one who is wholly unstudied of Haitian history and culture can gather the sense that we're getting only glimpses of a full, rich tapestry. More open to reasoned discourse is the tack that Deren took during the several years of filming; depending on one's point of view, 'Divine horsemen' is feasibly be seen as either succinct and precise, or bereft and insufficient. The footage acquired consists almost entirely of rituals and dances being performed, and otherwise celebrations; the narration provided by either John Genke or Joan Pape is very matter-of-fact, describing from the practitioner's perspective what the viewer is witnessing. To this end the movie is flush with vibrant life, and is engrossing and stimulating as a somewhat naturalist look at what vodou truly is; it's roughly equivalent to dispassionate video of a Christian mass or other religious rites. On the other hand, audiences don't necessarily get as complete an understanding of the imagery before us as we would were practitioners or outsider experts consulted and interviewed for the feature. In some measure, the lack of context for the rituals being performed means that the heart of vodou remains clouded in mystery - preserving sacredness, perhaps, by way of reverence, but also not entirely helping to dispel the misinformation that dominates public perception of the beliefs after countless years of TV, movies, videogames, and deliberate distortion from hostile outsiders.
That the value of 'Divine horsemen' can be debated thusly - itself an intriguing point of interest - is regrettable, as the conflict slightly distracts from what the documentary does genuinely offer. Whatever one's exact feelings about how Deren and her collaborators went about the project (I'm not quite decided myself), the content is nevertheless fascinating, and engrossing. In every regard the culture we're treated to is a cool breath of fresh air - music, dance, costumes, the piecemeal explanations the narration does provide, the compelling conglomeration of it all. One is left thirsting for still more - possibly a sign that Deren did her job, or just as possible a sign that her film falls short. Still, if the worst one can really say of a documentary is that it prompts intellectual discussion of how it treats the subject matter, then I'd say it's not half bad. Recommended specifically for utmost cinephiles and the sincerely curious, 'Divine horsemen: The living gods of Haiti' hasn't had a high profile at any point, and it's questionable whether or not it deserves one, but it's a quietly (if incompletely) satisfying watch if you come across it.
The brevity of this documentary is unfortunate insofar as even one who is wholly unstudied of Haitian history and culture can gather the sense that we're getting only glimpses of a full, rich tapestry. More open to reasoned discourse is the tack that Deren took during the several years of filming; depending on one's point of view, 'Divine horsemen' is feasibly be seen as either succinct and precise, or bereft and insufficient. The footage acquired consists almost entirely of rituals and dances being performed, and otherwise celebrations; the narration provided by either John Genke or Joan Pape is very matter-of-fact, describing from the practitioner's perspective what the viewer is witnessing. To this end the movie is flush with vibrant life, and is engrossing and stimulating as a somewhat naturalist look at what vodou truly is; it's roughly equivalent to dispassionate video of a Christian mass or other religious rites. On the other hand, audiences don't necessarily get as complete an understanding of the imagery before us as we would were practitioners or outsider experts consulted and interviewed for the feature. In some measure, the lack of context for the rituals being performed means that the heart of vodou remains clouded in mystery - preserving sacredness, perhaps, by way of reverence, but also not entirely helping to dispel the misinformation that dominates public perception of the beliefs after countless years of TV, movies, videogames, and deliberate distortion from hostile outsiders.
That the value of 'Divine horsemen' can be debated thusly - itself an intriguing point of interest - is regrettable, as the conflict slightly distracts from what the documentary does genuinely offer. Whatever one's exact feelings about how Deren and her collaborators went about the project (I'm not quite decided myself), the content is nevertheless fascinating, and engrossing. In every regard the culture we're treated to is a cool breath of fresh air - music, dance, costumes, the piecemeal explanations the narration does provide, the compelling conglomeration of it all. One is left thirsting for still more - possibly a sign that Deren did her job, or just as possible a sign that her film falls short. Still, if the worst one can really say of a documentary is that it prompts intellectual discussion of how it treats the subject matter, then I'd say it's not half bad. Recommended specifically for utmost cinephiles and the sincerely curious, 'Divine horsemen: The living gods of Haiti' hasn't had a high profile at any point, and it's questionable whether or not it deserves one, but it's a quietly (if incompletely) satisfying watch if you come across it.
helpful•00
- I_Ailurophile
- Aug 11, 2022
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Official sites
- Language
- Also known as
- Божественные всадники: Живые боги Гаити
- Filming locations
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
- Runtime52 minutes
- Color
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Top Gap
By what name was Divine Horsemen: The Living Gods of Haiti (1993) officially released in Canada in English?
Answer