Living Goddess: Now Available on DVD
August 20th, 2008 | by Alive Mind | Published in Films, Latest Releases, Living Goddess, Women | 1 Comment
LIVING GODDESS is a powerful portrait of a young girl venerated as a goddess growing up in a country on the verge of civil war. This is the story of Sajani, who is worshipped as one of three living goddesses in the Himalayan kingdom of Nepal, and whose peaceful existence is contrasted with violent political turmoil that threatens their traditional way of life. With beautiful imagery and an intimate story, LIVING GODDESS unfolds a world of spirituality and political turbulence through the eyes of a young schoolgirl.
“…beautiful…”
-The Guardian
“…a striking documentary…”
-The Independent
To buy the educational version, please visit the Alive Mind Education page.
| Living Goddess DVD | |
| Price: | $26.98 |
| Item #: | ALV-DV-6 |
| Availability: | USA & Canada |
| Running Time: | 87 minutes |
| Technical Aspects: | Dolby Digital, 16:9, NTSC Region 0 |
| DVD Extras: | Original Trailer |
| Language: | Nepalese with English subtitles |
| Copyright: | © 2007 Darkefibre Films. All rights reserved. |
August 8th, 2008 at 7:30 am (#)
Living Goddess examines the Hindu tradition of Kumaris, or living goddesses, young girls who are believed to be incarnations of a deity until they reach puberty. The filmmakers travel to Nepal to examine this phenomenon, taking a look at the life of Sajani, an 8 or 9 year old girl believed to be the incarnation of the Goddess Taleju.
If it seems to be a bit slow paced at first, with its long takes of daily routine, it’s for good reason: Nepal is a country with a way of life, a politics, and a culture that is utterly unfamiliar to most of the film’s viewers, and to move any faster would be to miss a great deal. The Kings of Nepal have traditionally relied on the goddesses as justification of their rule by divine right. In the midst of a Maoist insurgency against an autocratic King, the role of the living goddess has only come under greater scrutiny. Lengthy takes of protests and riots are interspersed with religious ritual and Sajani’s daily life. The filmmakers go to great lengths to point out that despite her status as a deity, Sajani is just a normal girl; she loves playing with toys, running around with her friends, and pestering her parents. Her life is extraordinary and rather mundane at the same time, and the film draws you in through the travails of its charming main character.
Nepal recently abolished its monarchy and became a republic, so it is possible that this tradition may die out as politics and religion begin to disentangle. Living Goddess is an informative and thoughtful portrait of an unusual element in Hinduism, a faith already alien to most Westerners. The film has stunning visuals, making full use of the colorful traditions and natural beauty of Nepal. By taking a look at an unorthodox part of Hindu South Asian culture, Living Goddess examines the conflict between tradition and modernity, religion and politics.