FR

Forest of the Dancing Spirits

Linda Västrik

2013

“In the beginning, women lived apart, unaware of the existence of men. Until one day, when the first woman, Toli, who was brave and adventurous traveled deep into the forest. Toli discovered solitary creatures with big muscles who knew how to climb trees and harvest wild honey. When Toli tasted their honey, she thought they should all live together….” That is how one of the creation stories of the Aka people from the tropical rainforest of the Congo Basin goes. Akaya, Kengole, Dibota and their friends and family are hunters-gatherers (and also great story-tellers) who guide us through their world. They explain their origins, myths, and the very spiritual meaning of life. The film follows their unique community life as it unfolds over many years. We experience the practice of their spirituality in the most difficult situations. Their religion is playful and highly creative in dealing with deeply serious matters of life and death, and may be the oldest human religion practiced on earth today.

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CREDITS

Directed by
Linda Västrki
Written By
Linda Västrki, Mila Aung-Thwin
Producer
Linda Västrki, Mila Aung-Thwin, Bob Moore
Executive Producer
Daniel Cross
Editor
Fredrik Alneng
Consulting Editor
Mila Aung-Thwin
Director of Photography
Linda Västrki
Composter
Francis Mercier
Origional Concept and Research
Linda Västrki
Produced in Association with
Super Channel
Produced with the Financial Support of
CMF, Sodec, Québec Film and Television Tax Credit Gestion Sodec, Canada, Swedish Film Institute, Nordisk Film & TV Fond
AWARDS

IDFA Competition for First Appearance, Ghuangzhou Doc

Peter Wintonick Special Jury Award for First Appearance

Nomination for Best Documentary Swedish Oscar (Gulbaggen)

Nominee Best International Documentary Hot Docs

Nominee Best Nordic Documentary Göteborg Film Festival