Spear and Sword - A Payment of Bridewealth on the Island of Roti, Eastern Indonesia

This traditionally ethnographic sequence film focuses on the negotiations betwen representatives of two families during a payment of bridewealth. In the past the husband's group would carry a spear and a sword to hang in the wife's house. Now, a payment is made as a substitute for the spear and sword. The payment of bridewealth is a long and complex ceremony in which representatives from the husband and wife's family engage in a heated negotiation process. The bride and groom are completely excluded from the negotiations and never appear in the film.

• James J. FoxDirector
• Timothy AschDirector
• Patsy AschDirector

Release date

January 1, 1988

Status

Released

Original language

English

Runtime

22m

Genres

Documentary

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