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Breaking Leaves
| Length: | 30 min |
| Released: | 2000 |
| Ages: |
High School Adult |
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In the Haitian countryside, where people have little access to doctors, hospitals, or conventional medicine, peasants have learned to use local leaves, herbs, and therapeutic massage as a way of curing simple ailments. This video follows several men and women as they take us into the bush to look for leaves that they need for healing. We then follow then home where they explain and demonstrate their way of preparing the poultice or infusion.
Narrated by the people themselves –and with beautiful songs about the importance of leaves woven throughout – this poetic film gives unique insight into the culture .
Narrated by the people themselves –and with beautiful songs about the importance of leaves woven throughout – this poetic film gives unique insight into the culture .
"Karen Kramer’s ‘Breaking Leaves’ is a lyrical, intelligent, and respectful film about the healing arts – an aspect of Haiti’s traditional religious life that is too often overlooked." -Dr. Karen McCarthy Brown, Prof. of Sociology and Anthropology of Religion, Drew University
"a revelation to those interested in African-based cultures and philosophies…" -Daniel Dawson, The American Museum of Natural History
"a revelation to those interested in African-based cultures and philosophies…" -Daniel Dawson, The American Museum of Natural History
Margaret Mead Film Festival, 1998
