As part of its Outreach Program to facilitate a greater understanding of Southeast Asian cultures, the Southeast Asia Program at Cornell University offers a collection of films and videos for one week of use. Titles are listed alphabetically by country. The videos are available for loan within the continental United States; Films are 16mm; videotapes are 1/2" VHS NTSC; or DVD. The customer MUST specify format ("film" or "Video" or ³DVD²) when ordering. Beneath each title is the length; format; color or black and white (b/w), and suitability for use suggested by the audience level code: i = intermediate grades; j = junior high level; s = senior high; a = college and adult level. Reproducible order forms are at the end of this catalog for your convenience.
24 min; video; b/w; jsa Filmed and narrated by Hugh Gibb and Tom Harrisson and produced for British television. The collection, sale, processing, cooking, and consumption of edible birdsnests from the great cave of Niah is documented. A detailed description of cave inhabitants includes swifts, bats, and birdsnest and guano collections. (1956)
27 min; video; b/w; jsa Archaeologists dig for signs of prehistoric man in the caves at Niah. Human bones, shells, pottery, beads, tools, and burial tombs are evaluated. The processes of cleaning, sorting, and dating are described. Hugh Gibb and Tom Harrisson. (1956)
29 min; video; b/w; jsa The culture and lifestyle of the Iban Sea Dayaks living on the Skrang River are documented. Included are religious practices, agriculture, cooking methods, textiles, and headhunting. Hugh Gibb and Tom Harrisson for British television. (1956)
30 min; video; b/w; jsa A variety of fishing methods used by a Malay fishing village on the Sarawak River Delta are documented. Activities of women and children are also described. Hugh Gibb and Tom Harrisson. (1956)
28 min; video; b/w; jsa Filmed and narrated by Barbara and Tom Harrisson and produced for British television. The way of life of the Kelabital highlanders of the tropical rainforests of Borneo is described. Daily activities include stone carving, beadcraft, breadcraft, basketry, carpentry, irrigated agriculture, trapping, fishing, cooking, and salt production. (1962)
38 min; film; color; sa Daily activities in a Dyak village located on the border between Malaysia and Indonesia are shown: fishing, harvesting, dancing, games, religious ceremonies, canoe making, family life, the annual three-day harvest festival, and other aspects of ritual life give a view of Stone-Age culture and sociology. (New York Univ.; 1965)
28 min; video; b/w; jsa The ancient past of Malay and Penan tribes along the Niah River are investigated. The annual propitiation ceremony at the Niah cave protects researchers and collectors there. Cave painting and burial grounds are shown. Six dances and games of Niah death rites are performed. Filmed and narrated by Barbara and Tom Harrisson for British television. (1962)
30 min; video; b/w; jsa Filmed and narrated by Tom and Barbara Harrisson. Examples of the arts and crafts of the Kenyah and Barawan peoples, including music and instrument making, painting, wood carving, beadwork, and body tatooing, are presented along with other daily life activities. (1956)
27 min; video; b/w; jsa Insects, marine and plant life, and animals, including the endangered rhinoceros and orangutan, are shown closeup. The daily life of Dayak tribes living in the region is also documented. Filmed and narrated by Barbara and Tom Harri sson for British television. (1962)
27 min; video; b/w; jsa Life in the mangrove tree swamps in the river deltas around Borneo is documented. Malay fishing villages are constructed on stilts. Birds and animals that live in the swamp are shown in closeup. Filmed and narrated by Barbara and Tom Harrisson for British television. (1962)
47 min; video; color; sa Travelogue describing the geography, religion and arts of Burma. Explore the Buddhist pagodas of ancient Pagan, observe traditional stone carving and gold leaf production in Mandalay, and enjoy traditional Burmese music and dance.
51 min. Shows the internal struggles of the Hong Kong police over the most effective drug strategy: to permit drug traffic and thereby contain it; or to attempt to eliminate it, with the almost certain result that it will continue underground.
53 min Shortened version of the 1976 documentary BELOW. This extraordinary documentary, shot during 18 months in the guerilla-held opium-producing regions of Burma, is the first inside report ever made of the Southeast Asia narcotics business. A third of the world's black market heroin comes from the Shan States of Burma, where rival armies betray and ambush each other's convoys in a desperate struggle for control of the opium business. Details the circumstances surrounding the Shan Army's proposal to sell to the U.S. government 400 tons of opium a year, diverting it from the illicit market. Relates how the Shan proposals have become the means for exposing flaws in the entire structure of narcotics laws and treaties.
53 min.Documents the attempt to implement an innovative strategy in the war on opium. The strategy is blocked by ineffective response by U.S. officials.
75 min; video; color; sa This extraordinary documentary, shot during 18 months in the guerrilla-held opium-producing regions of Burma, is the first inside report ever made of the Southeast Asia narcotics business. A third of the world's black market heroin comes from the Shan States of Burma, where rival armies betray and ambush each other's convoys in a desperate struggle for control of the opium business. Details the circumstances surrounding the Shan armies' proposal to sell to the U.S. government 400 tons of opium a year, effectively diverting 88,000 pounds of heroin from the illicit market. The conclusion relates how the Shan proposals have become the means for exposing flaws in the entire structure of narcotics laws and treaties. Blue-Ribbon Award winner at the 1976 American Film Festival. (1976)
56 min; video; color; sa This moving production clearly demonstrates the extent of the Burmese people's sacrifice during their 1988 uprising, which attempted to replace the ruling military government with democracy. Footage shows the leader of the democracy movement, Aung San Suu Kyi, winner of the 1991 Nobel Peace Prize, exhorting people all over the country to live in "freedom from fear." Features interviews with a student activist, a Buddhist monk, and a doctor who treated student demonstrators wounded by government soldiers. Includes some graphic scenes of wounded and murdered student activists, which drives home the cost of this struggle for democracy in Burma. (1994)
57 min; film; color; sa Scenes of contemporary Kampuchea as a Khmer cabdriver from New York City returns to his homeland after the Pol Pot era seeking family and friends he as not seen in ten years.
50 min; video; color; jsa Cambodian classical and folk dances performed at Cornell University in November, 1979. The program includes Apsara, The Magic Scarf, Elephant Hunting, Sovan Macha, Cambodian Music, Krab, Chhayam, and Dance of Greetings and Best Wishes. PURCHASE PRICE: $29.95 (vhs); inquire for prices of other video formats.
60 min; video; color; jsa Exposes the nightmare of the revolution unleashed by Pol Pot's Khmer Rouge after their victory in 1975. Explains the paranoia and provocations that led to the Vietnamese invasion; the famine, exodus and grinding war of resistance that followed; the struggle for peace in Kampuchea that continues to the present day. A sequel to Cambodia: The Prince and the Prophecy. (James Gerrand; 1988)
80 min; video; color; jsa To understand Cambodia, this program delves to the roots of its culture and its conflicts--it looks back to the time of the great kings of Angkor, how they ruled and how they survived as their empire crumbled; Cambodia's fears and response to the thrust of their Vietnamese neighbors; the impact of colonization by France and the struggle for independence in Indochina after the Second World War. Explores the years of Prince Norodom Sihanouk's rule, his juggle for peace, his charisma and contradictions. Follows the Prince's overthrow, and traces Cambodia's destruction during the five years of war before Pol Pot's Khmer Rouge came to power and launched their revolution. (James Gerrand; 1988)
42 min; video; color; jsa A Cambodian midwife, a shaman, an herbal doctor, and a Buddhist monk explain the Cambodian world view, their perceptions of health and well-being, and the natural and supernatural forces responsible for illness and mental disorder. (American Friends Service Committee; 1984)
25 min; video; color; jsa The slide-show format of this video provides a look at Cambodia's struggle to develop after the devastation of the Pol Pot regime. Emphasizes life today and the role of voluntary agencies in the rebuilding.
60 min; video; color; jsa Examines the Cambodian refugees' efforts to adjust to Western life and preserve their own culture; shows the significant role played by Khmer-Buddhist culture in the process. During the 1970's, one out of every seven Cambodians died at the hands of the Khmer Rouge. Those who survived faced the Khmer Rouge's attempts to destroy the family system, traditional arts such as music and dance, and the Buddhist religion which formed the foundation of their society. Shares the experiences of Cambodian refugees who are determined to build their temples, hold their religious ceremonies, and survive as a culture.
29 min; video; color; jsa A video about survival and recovery in Cambodia, by Ellen Bruno. Documents the lives of the Cambodian people, long troubled by war, and brings a humanistic perspective to a country in deep political turmoil. Focuses on the Cambodians' struggle to reconstruct their shattered society in a climate of war and with limited resources. Ancient prophecy, Buddhist teachings, folklore and dreams provide a context for understanding the Cambodians' world view and philosophies which guide their lives.
52 min; video; color; jsa Provides a fascinating and rare window on women's lives in Cambodia, a country under cultural and political reconstruction following the brutal Pol Pot regime. Under Pol Pot over 90% of Cambodia's artists were killed, including most of the classical dancers of the Royal Court Ballet. Only one in ten survived. This poignant portrait is the story of the tenth dancer and her relationship with one pupil. This is an extraordinary tale of human dignity and survival and testament to the critical role culture plays in rebuilding society in Cambodia.
28 min; video; color; sa Indonesian ancient literature is a treasury of mythology, history, religion and ethics--full of symbols which have permeated the culture for more that a thousand years. Explores these treasures against a background of ritual performances and architecture in Java and Bali. (1990)
23 min; film -OR- video; color; jsa Shows the life of an Achenese student, a devout Muslim from Sumatra. Emphasizes the pervasive influence of religion upon the life of Azahari and shows his highly organized day of study, work, prayer, and acts of charity in keeping with his faith. It includes scenes of his five set prayers each day, common practice for a devout Muslim. Azahari Ali performs various duties in the mosque, makes announcements to the congregation and teaches the Koran to the grandchildren of a wealthy businessman.
60 min; video; color; sa Art and everyday life come together in an intimate story about four generations of a famous Balinese family, bearers of gamelan music and Legong dance traditions. Follows an important event in the history of this family--the passing down of the Legong dance legacy to the youngest member of the family, a nine-year old girl. From the first lesson, given by the mother, to the final debut, presided over by the family's ninety-year-old patriarch and gamelan master, the producers capture the intensity with which tradition evolves and is passed on in Bali. The result is an intimate view into this dynamic culture, steeped in ancient traditions and increasingly exposed to the modern world. (1991)
30 min; video; color; sa An authentic picture of a culture that uses drama to promote community action. It shows Balinese ceremonies involving trance states.
25 min; video; color; jsa The problems of rural Nusa Tenggara, Timor, are presented. Low income farmers and textile workers live under conditions of poor education, a lack of transportation, poor nutrition and sanitation, community health problems, and a low life expectancy. Self-help programs are set up to improve nutrition, cooking methods, and sanitation, and teach preventive medicine and family planning. Part of the "Human Face Of Indonesia" series.
27:00 min; video; color; jsa A young Indonesian photojournalist, Debra Yatim, who studies journalism at Stanford University, works for the Djakarta Post. She emphasizes the human aspects of the city, interviewing people in various occupations and presenting the problems of city life. Her home life and family background, salary, and problems with censorship on the job are discussed. Part of the "Human Face of Indonesia" series.
25:00 min; video; color; jsa Many families on the overpopulated islands of Java and Bali are without land and jobs. Some of those who have had difficulty survivinghave joined a resettlement program which relocated them from Central Java to a new settlement in Kalimantan. Part of the "Human Face of Indonesia" series.
55 min; video; color; jsa From the BBC series, "Travels: Tales from Around the World." This episode concerns Madhur Jaffrey's visit to The Spice Islands of Indonesia. Explores a unique expression of Christianity on the island of Flores, views of the famous Indonesian author Muchtar Lubis' concening tourism's effect on indigenous culture, a sultan's mystical interpretation of a volcanic eruption on the clove-growing island of Ternate, the enduring cultural values of Ambon which enabled the Ambonese to endure centuries of colonial rule, and the extermination and slavery of Banda residents by the Dutch in order to control nutmeg production. Jaffrey narrates her journey against a background of breathtaking scenery and local customs. (1992)
21:00 min; film -OR- video; color; sa Shows selected highlights of the Ma'bugi dance and ritual in a village in Central Celebes. The Toraja ritual is a rite of invigoration and renewal. This film was taken in October 1971 in the Rantekasimpo village of the Makale district, a region renowned for its spectacular elaboration of Ma'bugi ritual.
27:00 min; video; color; jsa A dalang (puppeteer) of South Bali presents a performance in which offerings, sacred mythology, meditation, cosmology, and ancestral worship play a role. The transition of traditional arts from religious ceremony to tourist entertainment and the problems of modernization are discussed. Part of the "Human Face of Indonesia" series.
30:00 min; video; color; jsa A look at woman batik workers on Java and their problems. Discusses the justifications for paying low wages to women. (1983)
52 min. Centuries of Dutch rule has left a lasting imprint on Indonesian society. While the Dutch grew prosperous on Indonesia's wealth, the Indonesian people remained among the poorest of Southeast Asia. Looks at the period of Dutch colonization and at Indonesia's struggle for independence, which began in 1942 with the Japanese invasion and the end of Dutch rule.
55 min. The Japanese promised freedom but brought only cruelty and hardship to Indonesia. While providing the military training that enabled Indonesians to wage a revolutionary war against the Dutch, the Japanese also created a widespread network of control and surveillance that still exists today. Examines the period of Japanese rule and visits a small community, or Kampung, to show the effects of Japanese influence. When the nationalist movement finally won independence from the Dutch, it was the Japanese-trained army, not the people, who ruled the nation.
53 min. The bloody coup that led to President Suharto's rise to power in 1966 opened the door to rapid economic development, fueled primarily by investment from the United States and Japan. After 25 years of Suharto's "New Order" rule, Indonesia is again approaching a period of uncertainty. Poised for yet another battle for succession, Indonesia finds itself trying to cope with the conflict that has emerged as the country moves from an essentially spiritual and religious society to one embracing a philosophy of economic growth at any cost.
30:00 min; video; color; sa In the sacred rituals of Java, invisible spirits are brought down to enter the bodies of trancers who perform supernormal feats such as walking on fire. Extraordinary examples of altered states of consciousness in animistic, Hindu, and Muslim rites.
42:00 min; video; color; jsa Depicts the legend of the Goddess as it influences the lives of villagers in the land of the Minangkabau. (1986)
54:00 min; film -OR- video; color; sa A perceptive, intimate journey into traditional and modern Balinese life, seen through the eyes of two brothers caught in the crosscurrents of ancient and modern ways. One is a student of the traditional Balinese art of "shadow" puppets, apprentice to the village "shadow master," a combination priest/comedian/puppeteer. The other has been charmed by Western values: motorcycles and gambling, which cost his family precious farmland. "SHADOW MASTER" is a collaborative effort by filmmakers and Balinese villagers; the story was created from village events as they occurred. In Balinese with English voice-over. (Foundry Films; 1982)
59 mln; video; color; sa In Balinese cosmology demons are thought to dwell in the watery underworld, gods in the upper world, and humans in the middle realm between them. The program shows how human efforts in music, dance, theater, and ritual are directed to maintaining a proper balance between these three realms and between the forces of growth and decay. The culmination of these efforts is the Eka Dasa Rudra ceremony in which the entire Balinese population is mobilized once every century to transform eleven demons into beneficent spirits. Shows facets of this ceremony held most recently in 1979.
22 min; film -OR- video; color; jsa A dalang or Javanese puppeteer backed by the the traditional Javanese gamelan orchestra performs for a live audience. (1979)
25 min; video; color; jsa The governor, his wife, medical personnel, and the army work with the people of Kupang, Nusa Tenggar, Timor, to improve farming methods, food consumption, health, medicine, and education, eradicate the high infant mortality rate, and construct roads and bridges. Part of the "Human Face of Indonesia" series.
55 min; film; color; jsa A portrayal of ordinary sights, common sounds, and striking contrasts, the film focuses on the plight of some 200,000 becak or pedicab drivers who were excluded from the inner city of Jakarta during daytime hours by orders of the governor. The film also includes a portion of a drama performance and interviews with a village spokesman about issues such as new rice, pesticides, birth control, and the ordinary family diet. There is also a filmed portion of wayang golek, a performance using wooden puppets. (1971)
57 min; video; color; sa This documentary follows the mounting resentment towards the Laotian refugees who have settled in a small blue collar American town. The situation comes to a head when they build a Buddhist temple on a small farmstead. This effort to preserve their culture was greeted by several terrorist attacks. By investigating the opinions of townspeople and officials, the program mirrors the attitudes of many Americans towards the new wave of Asian immigrants. Gold Medal winner at the New York International Film and TV Festival. (1987)
45 min; video; color; sa Describes silk production, silk manufacture, weaving and traditional clothing, against a background of Laotian society and scenery. (1991)
45 mln; video; color; jsa In 1986 a group of International Voluntary Services workers returned to Laos, where they had worked a decade earlier. The video shows scenes of rural and urban life, looks at the economy and a Hmong new year festival. Discusses the lingering problem of "bomblets" left from the war. (1986)
12 min; video; color; sa Documents efforts to preserve Kmhmu (Kammu) culture. Features basketweaving and traditional dance instruction by Ta Lay Sivilay. Compares Kmhmu house construction and hunting with that of the early New England settlers. (1988)
58 min; video; color; sa An intimate and caring look at the Yiu Mien, a group of Southeast Asian refugees who originally settled in the Pacific Northwest. In their ancient society in the mountains of Laos, this hill tribe had no electricity, automobiles, or other twentieth century technology. Their involvement with the CIA during the Vietnam War forced them to lose their homeland fleeing as refugees to this country; catapulted from one century into another. Through the words of the elders and rare archival footage of their mountain homeland, their ancient culture is brought to light. Complex realities of their struggle to adapt to American culture is portrayed: religious rituals are performed in city apartments, women in traditional dress shop at malls, women farm with infants on their backs beside busy freeway traffic. This vivid portrayal allows American audiences experience a people and culture dramatically different from our own. (1990)
57 min; video; color; sa Public Broadcasting documentary, part of the "Travels....." series, focusing on the East Malaysian province's unique history, culture and economy. For over one hundred years (1841-1946), Sarawak was ruled by the benevolent white rajahs, the Brooke family. James Brooke was granted the province in return for ridding the the region of pirates. He and his successors considered themselves stewards, rather than authoritarian rulers, and were generally responsive to the indigenous people's needs. Actress Joanna Lumley visits the bustling capital and a relatively unspoiled inland village, as well as Florida, home of three living Brooke ranees. (1992)
52 min; film -OR- color; sa This panoramic perspective on contemporary multi--ethnic Malaysia presents the history, racial problems, and cultural differences of Malaysia's two major ethnic groups, Malays and Chinese. Emphasizes the volatile racial balance among Malays, Indians, Pakistanis, and economically powerful Chinese. Many historical and archaeological sites are shown. The detailed and engaging narrative covers 20th century events as well, including measures taken by the Malaysian government to assist Malays in business enterprises and to encourage racial harmony. Future plans and attitudes of young people provide a contrast at the close of the film to the historical emphasis at its beginning.
33 min; video; color; sa The story of Ezane Ahmad, a prominent Malaysian choreographer and her Suasana Theater. She has developed a unique genre based on ancient legends, combining traditional Malaysian music and dance with modern ballet and staging. Ezane and her dance troupe rehearse in the beauty and tranquility of Langkawi, an island considered to be a spiritual center of Malaysian mysticism. Suasana Theater productions incorporate the mystical beauty of nature in their artistic expression. (1992)
30 min; video; b/w; jsa A satire on American foreign policy that traces U.S. intervention in the Philippines following the Spanish-American War. Silent movie format with newsreel footage and animation. (1975)
14 min; film; color; ijsa Eleven-year old Cynthia Cena is the oldest of four children who live with their parents in a hilly jungle region of the Philippines. The family is poor and Cynthia's responsibilities include many hours of heavy work around her home and a full school day. She has little time for the basic privileges of childhood: the right to enjoy adequate rest and recreation.
45 min; video; color; sa British Broadcasting Company (BBC) production on human rights and the Catholic Church in the Philippines. Filmed during the 1970's, the program interviews several Catholic priests and a nun. The government position is presented by a well-known Filipino official. Contrasts and similarities between the various viewpoints are discussed.
29 min; video; color; sa Chronicles the unique and fascinating history of Filipino immigration to the United States during the 1920's and '30's. The story is told by the immigrants themselves, and their interviews combine with a rich array of historical photos, film footage, and period music to bring this forgotten chapter of American history to life. (1984)
35 min; video; color; sa A documentary about the problems of workers on sugar plantations on the island of Negros in 1985. Interviews with church activists, farm union organizers, and workers discuss poverty, human rights abuses, and killing and intimidation by the military in support of the plantation owners. Activists believe the frustration of gradual reform will lead to the social equivalent of a typhoon. (1986)
55 min; video; color; sa Captures the reality of a nation in turmoil. Illustrates the inequalities between the rich and poor, in terms of nutrition, disease, health care and justice. Rare footage of rebel army and government troop clashes in the countryside at the time of Marcos's ouster. (1987)
30 min; video; color; sa A look at Negros in 1986-87 after Aquino took office shows that little has changed for the sugar workers. The video focuses on widespread malnutrition, unemployment, the poverty with the collapse of the sugar industry. The need for land reform and crop diversification is discussed along with the need to protect human rights. (1987)
28 min; video; color; sa The struggle of the Igorots to stop a major dam project that threatens their lands and culture. The video shows how poverty, corruption and lack of political freedoms led to increasing alienation and the fall of Marcos. (1986)
40 min; video; color; jsa Reviews events in the Philippines in 1986. Provides background information on the Marcos regime and the massive popular demonstrations that led to the ouster of Marcos and the rise to power of Corazon Aquino. (1986)
112 min; video; color; sa Identifies the three points of a political triangle: the Legal Left, the Illegal (armed) Revolution, and the enemy which threatens them both--the armed Reactionary Right. Poses the question: should the people's movement continue the guerrilla war, or do they dare enter legal politics and reveal the hidden face of revolution? (1988)
30 min; video; color; sa A documentary on the environmental concerns of the T'Boli, who live in the hills of Mindano. They see their land threatened by "earth-consuming progress."
52 min; video; color; sa Studies the social, religious and political organization of Thailand, a nation that has never been under the rule of a foreign government. Examines Thai values, such as harmony and serenity, with acceptable releases of emotion, such a Thai boxing. Also surveys the leading Buddhist reform movements.
12 min; film -OR- video; color; ijs A Thai narrator depicts a young girl's daily life on a houseboat along the Chao Phraya River. Issues covered include problems of the topical environment, questions of individual responsibilities, and health precautions. This simple, informative program has strong visual appeal and contains perceptive contrats between Thai life with that of the west. (1970)
35 min [Hmong version]
40 min [English version]; video; color; sa This program, produced by a group of local Hmong refugees, is about the opportunities and difficulties facing their prople in this country. Through interviews and coverage of various aspects of life in America the program deals with such topics as education, jobs and training, legal matters, shamanism, and the difficult issues of cultural survival in America. Both language versions are on the same tape; the Hmong version is first.
32 min; video; color; jsa Looks at an American who became a Buddhist monk in Thailand. Shows the daily life and education of a monk there.
19 min; film -OR- video; color; jsa This film is of a daily sequence of events and activities in a small village on Phuket, an island off the southwest coast of Thailand, presents the social and economic activities of an expedition to the town market, a fishing expedition, latex processing, and rice and coconut collection. (1974)
14 min; film -OR- video; color; ijsa Briefly covers a wide range of aspects of Thai life and rice production from the city of Bangkok to the fertile river valley in which abundant rice crops are produced. The film includes sequences on rice farming, the way of life of a typical farm family, the floating market on Bangkok canals, and the busy traffic in Bangkok harbor.
61 min; film -OR- video; color; jsa Documents the annual cycle of the Miao (Hmong) people, an upland tribe in mainland Southeast Asia. A brief history of the Hmong, specifically the Blue Hmong in Thailand, is followed by descriptions of marriage, agricultural and funeral practices, and hunting for small animals. We hear typical music played on a Hmong khene, see clothes being made from hemp, and hear discussions of physical health and its relationship to mental health and psychology. Shows he workmanship of blacksmiths and silversmithing along with a variety of New Year's games.
25 min; video; color; sa A study of cultural misunderstanding and confrontation when a Hmong boy whose refugee family has emigrated to the United States is hospitalized. Raises questions about cross-cultural concepts of illness, the role of interpreters in health care, the difficulty of informed consent with non-English speaking patients in the absence of interpreters, the role of herbal and other non-Western medical practices, and the responsibility of family and state. (1983)
15 min; video ; color; jsa Depicts events on a 'typical' day at Wat Cedi Sao, "The Temple of Twenty Pagodas," a Buddhist temple monastery located near Lampang in northern Thailand. We hear monks and novices chanting, snatches of conversation in Thai, and the sounds of the temple courtyard and outside daily life. There are some superb shots and the film nicely captures activities within a Buddhist monastery. (1970)
60 min; video; b/w; sa About a seminar that took place in Northeast Thailand in 1975 to discuss the relevance to local inhabitants of the big Pa-Mong dam on the Mekong River. The seminar was attended by government officials, foreign experts, young intellectuals, farmers, and by the peasant Tongpan, the central character of the film, who lost his land when a smaller dam was built some years before. Seminar discussions are interwoven with sequences showing the everyday realities of the life of Tongpan, his wife, and children. There are scenes of striking beauty, despite the grim reality of peasant life. (In Thai with English subtitles)
23 min; video; color; jsa This video is an artistic essay on the juxtapositions between art and life in contemporary and traditional Vietnam. It introduces works hanging in the national Museum of Fine Arts in Hanoi (by old masters) and then presents in their geographic and spiritual environment with footage from the countryside. Rather than explaining the history of Vietnamese art or documenting artist's lives, the video attempts to provide newcomers to Vietnam with visual representations of themes and symbols in Vietnamese painting and daily life--Asian Studies Newsletter. Produced by Southeast Asia Program graduate student Nora Taylor with original music by Le Yen.
52 min; video; color; jsa In December, 1981, four former U.S. solders returned to Vietnam to explore the MIA and Agent Orange issues. Tells the story of a remarkable journey by the first American combat troops to return to Vietnam since the end of the war. It also documents an internal, emotional journey through which they found compassion for the Vietnamese people, resolved to help with humanitarian aid, and came to question the justification for war. (David Munro/Virginia Productions; 1985)
112 min; video; color; a Explores the events of the Vietnam War and the attitudes that led the U.S. into its longest and most controversial war. Examines the politics and ideals that resulted in a conflict that continues to haunt us. Winner of the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature; 1974.
25 min; video; color; jsa During the war that devastated her country, Kim Phu was hit by a napalm bomb. The picture of her running naked down a country road became world famous. At the height of the Vietnam War this was one transcendent image which reminded us all of the senseless horror of war. This is the story of that girl, mutilated by the war, now a young woman trying to surmount the effects of the disaster which befell her. We relive with her the tragedy of the past, we learn of the problems she has faced in intervening years, and we see something of the spirit with which she now confronts the future. (1984)
60 min; video; color; jsa While other programs focus only on the subject of American MIA's , this video specifically examines the plight of BOTH Vietnamese and American MIA's, and sets out to dispel the notion that the Vietnamese people do not value life as we do in the West. Wives and mothers of Vietnamese soldiers talk passionately about love and war. Points out that the war left about one million Vietnamese dead, one million disabled, and over two million suffering from diseases and mental disorders. (Bob Kane and Don Luce; 1991)
56 min; video; color; jsa A look at the history, effects, and implications of the use of the deadly defoliant Agent Orange during the Vietnam War. Uses rare archival, and striking war footage along with interviews with veterans, scientists, attorneys, and representatives of the Air Force, the Veterans' Administration, and Dow Chemical Co. (Green Mountain Post/Human Arts Association; 1983)
60 min; video; color; jsa A group of American TV journalists tour Vietnam after the reunification and document the efforts to rebuild the country. (1977)
103 min; video; color; sa Uses newsreel footage spliced with interviews to trace the Vietnamese struggle for national self-determination against the French, the Japanese, and the Americans. This montage provides a devastating comment on the doublethink and confusion contributing, to and resulting from, U.S. involvement in Vietnam. (Emile de Antonio; 1968)
50 min; video; color; jsa "Hell in a very small place," is how one survivor described the Vietminh siege at Dien Bien Phu in early 1954. Like Midway and Stalingrad, it ranks as one of the most decisive and seminal battles of recent times. In addition, the French defeat lead directly to the U.S. involvement in Vietnam, with everything that entailed. Unique archival footage of the struggle from both sides is incorporated with notable contributions from principal survivors. The background story traces France's colonization of Indochina, followed by Japanese occupation during the early 1940's and the eventual Allied liberation. Later, in 1954, as the Vietminh siege neared its fateful climax, U.S. Secretary of State John Dulles offered to atom-bomb the valley for the French, dissuaded only by last minute intervention of American congressional leaders including, ironically, Lyndon B. Johnson, the future President who himself was to fall from grace because of Vietnam. (1988)
100 min; video; color; sa Documents the anti-war movement in America, concentrating on the political activities of radical students at the University of Wisconsin, and how American foreign policy and American values at home were challenged and changed. (1986)
24 min; video; color; sa An overview of Vietnam today. Looks at the daily lives of the Vietnamese and the continuing impact of the war years. (1987)
38 min; video; color; sa In a reaction against emancipated Western women, some European men are choosing young Asian women as mail-order brides. These women, they believe, will make more accommodating wives. In the words of one man, "I like a wife who is more or less pure. They are brought up the old-fashioned way." This tape follows Danish men as they meet and marry Philippine girls of their fantasies. Their courtship has been entirely by mail. The human drama unfolds, by turns humorous and poignant. The young women, too, have their hopes and dreams, believing their marriages will lead them to a better life. How do these women fare half way across the world in an alien climate? Some of the marriages work and some don't, but once the woman takes the risk of marrying a foreigner there is no return; she has no citizenship in her new land and cannot return to her native country as a divorced woman. (Kaerne Film; 1987
30 min; video; color; jsa Traces the life of the Buddha from his birth as a prince through time spent as a wandering mendicant in search of a solution for life's sorrow to his later years when he trudged the dusty paths of India preaching his ego-shattering life-redeeming message. That message is threaded throughout the program as we visit monasteries and families in two different craft communities and see how Buddhism has influenced the lives of these gentle people in south Asia. Winner of a Chris Plaque award in the annual Columbus Film and Video Festival.
55 min; video; color; jsa William Shawcross travels up the Mekong river from its delta to near its source and visits surrounding areas in Vietnam, Cambodia, and Thailand. (1984)
In addition to these individual titles, three Southeast Asia "country packages" of titles are available on loan to educational institutions for a period of two (2) weeks. A customer MUST request specific country package when ordering. Annotations for each title are available elsewhere in thiscatalogue. Packages and their titles are:
CAMBODIA: Kampuchea: Its Land and People, Rebuilding the Temple: Cambodians in America, Samsara: Death and Rebirth in Cambodia, and Tenth Dancer, The
INDONESIA: Azahari Ali, Bali: Beyond the Postcard, Riding the Tiger (three-part video series)
VIETNAM: Burning Incense, Kim Phuc, Lament of a Warriors Wife, and When Night Comes
To arrange for a loan of the above media located in the SEAP Outreach Collection located at the Kahin Center, kindly contact the Cornell Southeast Asia Program Office of Outreach by phone or FAX at 607-275-9452 or by email at seap-out@cornell.edu.
Penny Nichols-Dietrich/Director of Outreach, Cornell University SE Asia Program