Film Programme
SPIRIT
documentary , Tue, 12:30
United Kingdom, Malaysia, 2010, 44'
Director: Chu-Li Shewring
Producer: Adam Gutch
Director of photography: Adam Gutch
Writer: Adam Gutch/ Chu-Li Shewring/
Composer: Mat Davidson
Editor: Chu-Li Shewring
Synopsis: In the jungles of Borneo, an Iban father on the cusp of old age begins a river journey to seek help for his sick child. Troubled by recurring and uncanny visions, which inhabit the bizarre world of the rainforests, father and son are drawn into a final ‘encounter’ deep inside the jungle. 'Semangat' was made through working closely with one Iban longhouse community from Sarawak, Malaysia, with whom the story was devised. The film explores the conflict that exists between ancient animist beliefs and modern approaches to illness. The main protagonists of the film are a real father and son, and a retired shaman from this community.
Director: Chu-Li Shewring
Chu-Li Shewring and Adam Gutch have been collaborating since 2007. A series of their short films exploring late night radio phone-ins have been screened on Channel 4 and at the Sheffield International Documentary Film Festival. Their other short films have also been screened in Barcelona, Rotterdam and Canada. After graduating from the National Film and Television School, UK, they formed Flying Ant Films to produce their first longer format project, Semangat (Spirit), which has been funded and supported through a scheme set-up by The Channel 4 BRITDOC Foundation and The NFTS.