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Movie poster: The Return of Gods and Ancestors: Paiwan Five Year Ceremony (1985)
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The Return of Gods and Ancestors: Paiwan Five Year Ceremony

1985 · 35 min Documentary

The Return of Gods and Ancestors is the first locally made ethnographic film in Taiwan. The film, captured with a hand-cranked Bell & Howell 16 mm camera, documents the most magnificent five-year ceremony in Paiwan tribe. During the festival, the Paiwan people expect to receive blessings of the gods and ancestors by piercing rattan balls with extended bamboo poles; however, they also try to prevent any harm caused by evil spirits. The Paiwan five year ceremony is not only the reunion of the dead and the living, but a meeting of the old and the new.

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📋 Film Details

Original Title 神祖之靈歸來:排灣族五年祭
Year 1985
Country Taiwan
Genre Documentary
Director Hu Tai-Li
Runtime 35 min.

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🎬 MovieFinder's Take

The Return of Gods and Ancestors: Paiwan Five Year Ceremony is an acquired taste at 0.0/10. We recommend checking the trailer and synopsis before diving in.

Not every film is made for everyone. Read the synopsis, watch the trailer — you'll know right away if it's for you.

A classic from 1985. They don't make them like this anymore — which is exactly why you should watch it. Best for: genre fans and those open to something unconventional.

— MovieFinder Editorial

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