主eee
导演：JeanRouch
语言：法语
地区:法国
编剧：
类型：纪录片/短片
上映时间：2004-04-17
别名：MadMasters
用户标签：纪录片,法国,短片,Jean_Rouch,JeanRouch,让·鲁什,documentary,1950s
片长：36分钟
imdb编号：tt0048363
LesMaitresFousisabouttheceremonyofareligioussect,theHauka,whichwaswidespreadinWestAfricafromthe1920stothe1950s.HaukaparticipantswereusuallyruralmigrantsfromNigerwhocametocitiessuchasAccrainGhana(thenGoldCoast),wheretheyfoundworkaslaborersinthecity'slumberyards,asstevedoresatthedocks,orinthemines.Therewereatleast30,000practicingHaukainAccrain1954whenJeanRouchwasaskedbyasmallgrouptofilmtheirannualceremonyDuringthisritual,whichtookplaceonafarmafewhoursfromthecity,theHaukaenteredtranceandwerepossessedbyvariousspiritsassociatedwiththeWesterncolonialpowers:thegovernorgeneral,theengineer,thedoctor'swife,thewickedmajor,thecorporaloftheguard.
TherootsoftheHaukalieintraditionalpossessioncultscommonamongtheSonghayandDjermapeoplesoftheNigerRiverbasin.Giftedmenandwomenmayentertranceandbecomepossessedbyanyofanumberofstronggods,suchasDongo,godofthunderandthesky.Supplicantsconsultthegodthroughthetrancingmediumandreceiveadviceabouttheirproblems,curesfordiseases,comfortandsupport,orreprimandsfortheirwrongdoings.Likethesetraditionalpossessioncults,theHaukasectco-existedwithIslamandincorporatedmanyIslamicsaintsandheroesintoitsrituals.MostofitsadherentswereMuslims.
HaukafirstappearedinNiger,itisthought,inthepersonofaformersoldierwhoparticipatedinthesavagebattlesofthesecondGermanoffensiveofWorldWarIin1917and1918,inwhichWestAfricantroopsweredecimateddespitetheirspectacularperformance.ThissoldiermadethepilgrimagetoMeccaandreturnedtoNigerinthe1920s.Inhisvillage,inRouch'saccount,hefoundthepeople"doingatraditionaldanceandthesoldierwaspossessed,veryviolentlypossessed,andwhilepossessedhesaid'Iamtheavant-gardeofthenewgodswhoarecomingfromMalia[theRedSea].MynameisGovernorMaliaandIamthefirstofthenewgodswhoarecomingandtheyarethegodsofstrength'."
TheHaukawerequicklysuppressedbytheFrenchauthoritiesinNiger,withthesupportoftraditionalchiefsandpriestswhofearedthepopularityofthenewmovementanditschallengetoestablishedauthority.ButtheHaukacultspread,evenwithinthejailwalls,andby1935theBritishadministrationinGhanaagainattemptedtosuppressitandtojailthecultists.FiresbrokeoutinresponsethroughoutAccra,andeventuallytherewasanagreementthatHaukapriestswouldlimittheirceremoniestocertainplacesandtoSaturdaysandSundays.Thiswasstillthecasein1954whenRouchfilmedLesMaitresFous,whichwasbannedbythecolonialgovernmentin1955.
TheHaukamovementwasaphenomenonofthecolonialera.AftertheindependenceofGhanain1957,migrationwascontrolledandmanyHaukawhohadsettledinAccrareturnedtoNiger.Nigeritselfgainedindependencethreeyearslater,andtheHaukabegantosubsideandtobeabsorbedintothetraditionalreligioussystem.Dongo,forexample,theoldgodofthunder,isnowconsideredthefatheroftheHauka.AsRouchhaspointedout,"therewasnomorecolonialpowerandthereneverwasaHaukacalledKwameN'krumah."TheeventsfilmedrepresenttheendoftheHaukadevelopment.TodaythefilmisshowninthevillagesofGhanaandintheNigerCulturalCenter.
TheimageryinLesMaitresFousispowerfulandoftendisturbing:possessedmenwithrollingeyesandfoamingatthemouth,eatingasacrificeddog(inviolationoftaboo),burningtheirbodieswithnamingtorches.Beyondtheimagery,thethemesarealsopowerful,andhavehadanimpactinourownculture:JeanGenet'sTheBlackswasmodeledupontheHaukainversioninwhichblacksassumetheroleofmasters,andPeterBrook'sMarat/SadewasinfluencedbythetheatricalityandinventedlanguageofHaukapossession.Yet,asRouchremindsusinaninterviewinCineaste,possessionfortheHaukacultistswasnottheaterbutreality.Thesignificanceofthisrealityisleftambiguousinthefilm,althoughRouch'scommentarysuggeststhattheritualprovidesapsychologicalreleasewhichenablestheHaukatobegoodworkersandtoendureadegradingsituationwithdignity.TheunexploredrelationoftheHaukamovementtotheircolonialexperience1-Sperhapsthemostintriguingissueraisedbythisceremonyinwhichtheoppressedbecome,foraday,thepossessedandthepowerful.