MANENÈ
Maité Delcourt, Christoph Lemmen | Panama 2009 | 58 Min.| OmeU
A three-day trip from Panama City, close to the Colombian border, we meet Reynaldo in the village Manené. The young man belongs to the Emberá People, one of Panamas seven indigenous groups. The ‘aboriginal’ culture of the Emberá, based on oral tradition, falls more and more into oblivion. Searching for cultural identity Reynaldo realizes his own documentary. At the same time, he looks ahead and defends himself against the common clichés of indigenous people or so called Indians.
Rogelio Cansarí, who also comes from Manené, lives and works in Panama City. For the benefit of studying Anthropology he sacrificed the ‘apprenticeship’ with his grandfather, the last great shaman of the village. A decision, from which he nevertheless emerges with an invigorated self-awareness for his People and for himself.
