SOLD OUT - Edward Curtis' In the Land of the Head Hunters
Sunday June 22/2008
7:00 pm
Chan Shun Concert Hall
Presented by Gwawina Dancers with the UBC Museum of Anthropology and UBC First Nations Studies Program
In 1914, famed photographer Edward S. Curtis produced a melodramatic, silent film entitled In the Land of the Head Hunters, the first feature-length film to exclusively star Native North Americans. An epic story of love and war set before European contact, it featured non-professional actors from Kwakwaka’wakw communities in British Columbia—a people famous for their spectacular visual culture.
The film had gala openings in New York and Seattle where it was accompanied by a live orchestral score composed by John Braham. Critics wrote in rapturous terms about the power and beauty of the film, the Seattle Sun calling it a “great production—like a string of carved beads, too rare to be duplicated.”
In 1947, a single copy arrived at the Field Museum after being picked out of a Chicago dumpster; these damaged and incomplete reels were re-edited and released in 1974 as In the Land of the War Canoes, featuring a new soundtrack recorded by Kwakwaka’wakw consultants. At some point, a few deteriorating clips from another copy found their way to the UCLA Film and TV Archive, and the all-but-forgotten score was filed under another name at the Getty Research Institute.
Today, a fully restored copy of In the Land of the Head Hunters is being screened across North America, reunited with its original orchestral score and informed by descendents of the original Kwakwaka’wakw cast. At the Vancouver film screening, descendants of the original actors will present Kwakwaka’wakw songs and dances and discuss their relation to the film. The score will be performed live by the local Turning Point Ensemble. Finally, on Tuesday, June 24, 2008 the UBC Museum of Anthropology will host a panel to discuss critical issues of representation relating to the film.
Film Restoration: UCLA Film & Television Archive, in cooperation with the Field Museum John Braham Score: Research Library, The Getty Research Institute (850111) Performance Edition: David Gilbert, UCLA Music Library.
For more information please visit www.curtisfilm.rutgers.edu
This presentation is part of the celebration of UBC's 100th Anniversary.
In 1908, the provincial government proclaimed the University Act to establish British Columbia's first higher education institution. From this act of foresight, UBC has grown into one of the world's best public Universities by richly serving its provincial, national and global communities through its core mission of teaching, research and service.
Throughout 2008 UBC will celebrate 100 years of achievement with a diverse line up of events. Visit the Centenary website www.100.ubc.ca for all the details.
