Deep Hearts

Duration: :53

Year Published: 1979

Creator: Robert Gardner

Format: 16mm

Color: Color

Sound: sound

Description: Documents, with minimal narration, the ritual dances, or gerewol, performed by young men of the nomadic Bororo Fulani in the Niger Republic of Africa, to celebrate their pride in themselves as independent and beautiful people. Details the preparation for this week-long beauty contest, focusing on movements, social behavior, and facial expressions as the young men go to great lengths to make themselves appealing. Shows the contestants applying make-up, selecting jewelry, and grooming each other and views the ritual farewell of chiefs at pageant's end. Studies one dance sequence in slow motion but does not give analysis., During the few weeks of the rainy season, the nomadic Bororo Fulani people of the Niger Republic gather and hold a ritual series of dances known as a gerewol, in which the younger men compete in a contest of beauty. To hide feelings of envy, the men cultivate a deep and secret heart. The documentary raises questions concerning the degree to which a person may be held hostage by his culture.

Complete Record: Documents, with minimal narration, the ritual dances, or gerewol, performed by young men of the nomadic Bororo Fulani in the Niger Republic of Africa, to celebrate their pride in themselves as independent and beautiful people. Details the preparation for this week-long beauty contest, focusing on movements, social behavior, and facial expressions as the young men go to great lengths to make themselves appealing. Shows the contestants applying make-up, selecting jewelry, and grooming each other and views the ritual farewell of chiefs at pageant's end. Studies one dance sequence in slow motion but does not give analysis., During the few weeks of the rainy season, the nomadic Bororo Fulani people of the Niger Republic gather and hold a ritual series of dances known as a gerewol, in which the younger men compete in a contest of beauty. To hide feelings of envy, the men cultivate a deep and secret heart. The documentary raises questions concerning the degree to which a person may be held hostage by his culture. NOTE: Two (or more) records have been merged together to create this data.