The Hyperwomen

Deep in the jungle of Mato Grosso, in the upper course of the Xingu, this sparkling documentary follows preparations for a Jamurikumalu ritual: a festival of singing and dancing that is only performed by women. The problem is that the only woman who knows all the songs is seriously ill. 　　Because he fears that his spouse does not have much longer to live, an old Indian asks his cousin whether his wife would like to perform the Jamurikumalu one more time. It’s the ritual dance of the native population of the Upper Xingu, who live in the centre of Brazil. The sick wife wants nothing more than to sing along with the women of the village one more time. The preparations are started, but the only woman who knows all the lyrics is far from healthy too. Several old cassette tapes also don’t offer a way out. 　　An ethnographic documentary about a tribe that seems to live in a different age, The Hyperwomen is soberly shot but the intelligent cutting helps make it gripping. The Indians live in reed huts, usually walk around naked - apart from a few cords and daubs of paint - but they seem completely at ease in front of the camera. Their conversations are very open-hearted with extremely sexual overtones. The complicated singing is beautiful, just like the equally complicated dance steps that accompany it.