Asmat

2000 52mMovie

Documentary

The Asmat people live on the southwestern coast of western Papua, a land that has long remained free of outsiders, discouraged by the Asmats' terrifying reputation as cannibals and headhunters. The film tells the story of Rufinus, a 20 year old Asmat, that will be married. Before that however, he must capture and kill a cassowary, the great solitary bird that lives in the depths of the jungle. Accomplishing this task will give Rufinus a sense of belonging to the Asmat people, whom their neighbors, the Mimikans call, 'We mana wé: the men who eat the man'. Parallel to the wedding, spectacular and rare stock film retraces the history of this terrifying people.