Home > Events > Film Screening: 'Shadows & Illuminations' on Mental Illness, Spirit Possession and Social Violence in Bali

"Shadows & Illuminations" is a film directed by UCLA anthropologist, Professor Robert Lemelson, and follows an older Balinese man, Pak Kereta, as he struggles with the intrusion into his consciousness of spirits. The film documents his painful history of trauma, loss and poisoning, and draws on his other family member's interpretations of how to understand his struggles and distress. Central questions of how to interpret his experiences, and what role a schizophrenia diagnosis entails are explored. "Shadows & Illuminations" is part of the "Afflictions: Culture & Mental Illness in Indonesia" series which was shot over the course of 12 years in Bali and Java, Indonesia and explores the relationship between culture, mental illness and personal experience.

More information on the film can be found at www.elementalproductions.org and the trailer can be viewed at YouTube at http://youtu.be/C-JdFlzQR5E.

Cost: Free and open to the public.

For more information please contact

Barbara Gaerlan
Tel: 310-206-9163
cseas@international.ucla.edu
www.international.ucla.edu/cseas

Sponsor(s): Center for Southeast Asian Studies, Anthropology