Divine Horsemen: The Living Gods of Haiti

Maya Deren takes an in-depth look at the Vodoun religion and related beliefs of many Haitian people in this footage shot during the late '40s and early '50s. This program was edited after Deren's death by Cherel and Teiji Ito. The documentary provides insights into the rituals of the Rada, Petro, and Congo cults, whose followers believe they can serve the cosmic powers through appropriate prayers, offerings, songs, and dances. Viewers are exposed to many interesting facts about both Vodoun culture and spirituality from the perspective of Deren, who was once called the mother of American avant-garde filmmaking.