Section: Homeland | Domownja | Domizna

Serbski Són - sich sorbisch trauen

Serbski Són - Marriage, the Sorbian Way

Edmund Ballhaus
Germany, 2001, 72 Min

A rare work of film: Michaela and Andreas want a Sorbian wedding. The Braška is organised, a dress is bought, guests are invited and yet reality doesn't live up to expectations. The film accompanies the couple as they prepare for their big day, as well as on more mundane errands as we learn what it means to have a Sorbian wedding in the year 2000.

Gesellschaft für den kulturwissenschaftlichen Film

With Andreas taking part in the Easter riding process, Michaela singing Sorbian church songs and the two of them on a pilgrimage to Rosenthal, the viewer encounters an apparently thriving culture. Discussions with a Ralbitz priest highlight how heavily this culture is shaped by Catholicism and its unifying power. At the same time however a sermon is preached against the "godless mischief" of local youngsters and the braška complains of the growing influence of German on Sorbian weddings. On a similar note Michaela prefers to marry in white rather than traditional costume. The idyll is fragile, despite the haunting lyrics of Měrćin Weclich, which emphasise the importance of remembering one's roots.

In Sorbian circles the film received a critical reception due to its portrayal of customs as a dynamic, lived experience rather than abstract ideals, an approach which ran contrary to the local portrayal of tradition as unchanging in its supposedly "correct" implementation. GL

Filmformat
Beta S | Doc. | Farbe / colour
Kamera
Edmund Ballhaus
Ton
Anja Müller
Schnitt
Cornelia Ballhaus, Birgit Liebau
Produktion
Gesellschaft für den kulturwissenschaftlichen Film
Kontakt
Gesellschaft für den kulturwissenschaftlichen Film
Am Storchennest 9
26847 Detern
Germany
+49.49.57.69.34.70 0
www.gfkf.de
info@gfkf.de
Edmund Ballhaus

Edmund Ballhaus - born in 1954 in Echte, Germany. He is the initiator and was the director of the area of studies „Visual Anthropology“ at the University of Göttingen. 1990 he founded the society GFKF. He directed and produced documentaries for schools, universities, museums and TV.

Movies
SCHERBENWIESE IM GRENZGEBIET (1991)
ÜBER DER KOHLE WOHNT DER MENSCH (1996)
LETZTE AUSFAHRT LOGGER (2007)
WEGE ÜBER DEN FLUSS (2008)

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