MACUMBA MACAMBRE
Synopsis
Macumba Macabre is a 30-minute, educational documentary about Afro-Brazilian religions. Popular throughout Brazil, but especially in urban centers like Rio de Janeiro, these religions focus on a variety of spirit entities who are believed to be active in the lives of human beings, for good or ill. Ritually summoned from their otherworldly abode through drumming, song and dance, the spirits are invited to “mount” their trained mediums. Ethnographer Kelly Hayes incorporates ten years of video footage of ceremonies and personal interviews with participants to present an overview of this fascinating possession religion where ritual performance replaces scripture.
Distributed by University of California, Berkeley Press as a companion DVD within Hayes’ book, Holy Harlots.
