A Goddess in Motion (María Lionza in Barcelona)

Directing, camera and research: Roger Canals
Production: Wenner-Gren Foundation and Jordi Orobitg Produccions
Running time: 64 min.
Editing: Jordi Orobitg
Year: 2016

Sinopsis: The cult of María Lionza, one of the most important religious practices in Venezuela, is beginning to manifest itself in Barcelona. Through the testimonies of believers, artists and esoteric art sellers, this documentary depicts, for the first time, the appearance of this religion in the Catalan capital. Throughout the documentary, the author questions the changes that the ritual undergoes when it must adapt to a new context. It is also an ethnographic documentary in the first person, in which the anthropologist –of Catalan origin– reflects openly on the field work, the relationship with the informants and the meaning of the difference between “us” and “others”.

You may watch the film here: www.va-marialionza.com

Festivals and screenings (selection):

Musée de l’Homme de Paris (2019).
Festival of Ethnographic Cinema of Bulgaria (2017)
Film Festival of the European Association of Social Anthropolog (2018)
Filmoteca de Catalunya (2017)
Taiwan International Ethnographic Film Festival (2017)
Society for the Visual Anthropology Film Festival (2016)
Kratovo Ethnographic Film Festival (2016)
Festival of Ethnographic Film of Recife (2016)
Festimal de Ojo de Ecuador (2016)