Kawas Sancti cover

S Y N O P S I S

Synopsis image

Deep in the lush rice fields of Hualien County, Taiwan, the Pangcah (Amis) Indigenous community lives at the intersection of two spiritual worlds:

On one hand, the ancestral traditions passed down through generations of shamans;

On the other hand, the Christian faith introduced by missionaries.

This 52-minute documentary follows the young shaman Marang Panay, documenting his performance of healing rituals. At the same time, we meet Father Joseph, a Catholic missionary working within the same community.

Through these two life paths, the film portrays the coexistence of these spiritual worlds and attempts to reveal the profound and essential similarities between them.

T R A I L E R

D I R E C T O R ’ S   S T A T E M E N T D I R E C T O R ’ S
S T A T E M E N T

The film invites audiences to delve into the complex and multi-layered spiritual world of the Indigenous community. By portraying the coexistence of shamanic rituals and Christian ceremonies, it reveals a culture that continuously adapts and evolves amid social and historical transformations.

As a shaman of the Sikawasay hierarchy, Marang’s life journey guides us into a world where shamanic rituals honor ancestral spirits, heal ailments, and sustain an intimate and profound connection with the sacred. The film also explores how Christianity, introduced by missionaries in the 1950s, gradually integrated into local traditions.

The creative intention of this work is to offer an experience of “listening” rather than a didactic exposition: following the rhythm of the subjects’ own time, attuning to their songs, their uncertainties, and the subtleties of their gestures.

Director statement image

D I R E C T O R D I R E C T O R

Director portrait

Researcher and filmmaker Gauthier Le Pévédic is dedicated to creating documentaries that explore religious rituals around the world.

In 2023, he completed Rio Verde in the Shipibo community of the Peruvian Amazon.

In 2024, he collaborated with the Pangcah community in Tafalong, Taiwan, to complete Kawas Sancti.

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