MALTA - PARISH

30 minutes Colour 1982
Film-maker: Peter Ramsden
Anthropologist: Jeremy Boissevain

This film shows facets of daily life in a Maltese village, including the separate worlds of men and women, and the central role that the church, religion and ritual play in the community. Though Malta is industrialized, the social life of the community revolves around the church just as it did in rural Europe centuries ago.

The film is built up out of eleven episodes in the life of the parish, which include how the parish church is a focus for the community; the role of the Malta Labour Party club; the Peace Band club, and the local café; the position of women in public and of men in the church; the annual blessing of the houses; and the procession of Our Lady of Sorrows.

This film would be useful to explain the daily and yearly religious and secular cycles of life in a Maltese community. It is recommended for courses in European studies, religious studies, anthropology, sociology and multi-cultural studies. The film was made as part of the BBC series, Other People's Lives, and a study guide to accompany the series is available from the RAI, price £3.50. Catalogue number (16mm): 3RA121 £9.

1. B. Blouet, 1967. The Story of Malta. Faber, London.

2. J. Boissevain, 1965. Saints and Fireworks: Religion and Politics in Rural Malta. L.S.E. Monograph on Social Anthropology No.30, Athlone Press, London. (2nd edition 1969).

3. J. Boissevain, 1967. `Some Notes on the Position of Women in Maltese Society'. In K. Weibust (ed.) Kulturvariation i Sydeuropa. NEFA Forlag, Copenhagen.

4. J. Boissevain, 1974. `Conflict and Change: Establishment and Opposition in Malta'. In J. Davis (ed.) Choice and Change: Essays in Honour of Lucy Mair. L.S.E. Monograph on Social Anthropology No.50, Athlone Press, London.

5. J. Boissevain, 1977. `When the Saints Go Marching Out: Reflections on the Decline of Patronage in Malta'. In E. Gellner and J. Waterbury (eds.) Patrons and Clients in Mediterranean Societies. Duckworth, London.

6. J. Boissevain, 1977. `A Causeway with a Gate: The Progress of Development in Malta'. In S. Wallman (ed.) Perceptions and Development. Cambridge University Press.

7. J. Boissevain, 1977. `Tourism and Development in Malta'. Development and Change, Vol. 8, pp. 523-38.

8. J. Boissevain, 1978. `Of Men and Marbles: Notes Towards a Reconsideration of Factionalism'. In M. Silverman and R.F. Salisbury (eds.) A House Divided: Anthropological Studies of Factionalism. Memorial University of Newfoundland, Halifax.

9. J. Boissevain, 1978. `The Maltese Islands'. In A. Sutherland (ed.) Face Values. BBC Publications, London.

10. J. Boissevain, 1980. A Village in Malta. Holt, Rinehart and Winston, New York.