The Pierced Heart & the Machete and Staring Into the Sun

Saturday, December 1st, 2012.
8 o'clock pm
Tickets $10 ($8 VPES members)
Available at http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/296541 

This evening of films by Olivia Wyatt features the Los Angeles debut of
The Pierced Heart & The Machete and Staring into the Sun,
both under release from Sublime Frequencies

Forthcoming from Sublime Frequencies, "The Pierced Heart & The Machete," is a vivid exploration of two annual Vodou pilgrimages in Haiti. The first is for Èzili Danto, goddess of love, art and passion; worshippers from all over the world descend on the southwestern town of Ville-Bonheur to bathe in the sacred waterfall where Dantò resides. The second pilgrimage is for Dantòs' husband Ogoun, god of war, iron and healing. It takes place at the end of July in the northern town of Plaine du Nord, where hundreds of enraptured practitioners bathe in a mud pool and make sacrifices.  A trailer for "The Pierced Heart & The Machete" (2012, 70 min.) is available here:  https://vimeo.com/42460771

With "Staring into the Sun," Olivia Wyatt explores 13 different tribes throughout Ethiopia.  Traveling from the northern highlands to the lower Omo Valley, Wyatt brings together the worlds of Zar spirit possession; Hamer tribal wedding ceremonies; Borena water well polyphonic singing; wild hyena feedings; and bizarre Ethiopian TV segments; presenting an enchanting look at these ethereal images, landscapes and sounds from the horn of Africa.  A trailer for the film (2009, 60 min.) is available here:  https://vimeo.com/9468566

Filmmaker Olivia Wyatt, will be present for this Los Angeles première of the films at The Velaslavasay Panorama. 

Special thanks to Jed Lackritz.