The Sacrifice

Across diverse societies, the boundaries between body and mind, individual and community, and caregiver and patient have been carefully documented—research that lies at the heart of anthropological study. Robert Lemelson’s film intimately follows a mental health patient in a small Balinese village over several years. Through the man’s life story and the varied healing practices he undergoes, the film reveals understandings both similar to and distinct from those common in the Western world. Serving as both a descriptive and investigative work, this film continues a long-standing dialogue that began with Gregory Bateson and Margaret Mead in their 1930s film Dance and Trance in Bali.

Please note that the film contains content that may be difficult to watch, including violence toward others and self-harm.