True Films 3.0 - Kevin Kelly

Ile Aiye (The House of Life)
An arty documentary made by musician David Byrne about a personal
fascination of his, Candomble, an African cult practiced in urban Brazil.
There’s little narration, but much music, multiple windows on the screen,
and lots of dancing. Think of it as visual anthropology about a voodoolike
spiritual practice which blossoms in Brazil and is now an indigenous
religion. For example, there are 7,000 followers of the Sons of Gandhi, a
bizarre amalgamation of Gandhi pacifism, Sikh costume, voodoo, Brazil
machismo, and Carnival band. The film provides an impressionist view
of their exotic celebrations, heavy with music. You have the option of
hearing David Byrne’s commentary on one track, and this is by far the
best way to view the film. His narrative is quirky, personal, informative,
and essential, and really should be the default mode of this film. It is one
artist interpreting and introducing a new folk art.
By David Byrne
2004, 51 min.
Available from Amazon
Rent from Netflix
A Brazilian Gandhi figure (right) leads his
troupe in a Candomble-inspired dance.
Mothers dressed in their best priestess
outfits (below) shuffle and sway until a
few of them are possessed by their spirits.
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