Jathilan: Trance and Possession in Java

26m

Practiced in Java for centuries, Jathilan is a folk dance that uses the power of music and dance to channel powerful and sometimes terrifying forces. Led by a spiritual guide and a whip-bearing ringleader, a group of dancers ride woven horses in rhythmic unison until they are entered by spirits. Once possessed they engage in a range of self-mortification behaviors until safely emerging from their altered state, left with no memory of the event and no lingering ill effects. The film combines footage of a number of Jathilan performances with interviews with dancers, spiritual leaders, anthropologists, and enthusiasts.

Cast

Crew

Robert Lemelson

Director

Dag Yngvesson

Director of Photography

Wing Ko

Director of Photography

Malcolm Cross

Music Score Producer

Jathilan: Trance and Possession in Java

Cast

Crew

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