Of This Parish follows St. Anthony on a journey from a church tower to the threshold at which its bells can be heard. The film is both a sonic portrait of the Parish of Sul and a meditation on the changing role of bells in a rural community
Of This Parish: A Film (2014) Latest
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08:11:15 - Of This Parish at Arnolfini
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It is said that Anthony’s blessed bells had the power to work miracles, to cleanse the air of demons and evil spirits, protecting animals and children from weather and fire. Of This Parish follows St. Anthony as he travels from a church tower out to the threshold at which its bells can be heard. The film is both a sonic portrait of Sul – the Parish in the Gralheira mountains of Portugal where it is set – and a meditation on the changing role of bells in a rural community. The film begins with the idea of a Parish as territory defined by sound, a community whose borders are drawn by the earshot of a bell. As we travel from the epicentre of the community to its outer limits, we encounter bells used as a call to prayer, bells as time-keepers and alarms and bells as pre-Christian protectors, casting the talismans inscribed in their metal across the phonosphere, purifying the air.
Of This Parish was filmed on location in the parish of Sul and features the voice of Luís Costa, who was born in the region and is one of the founders of the Binaural/Nodar, the art organisation that co-produced the film with liminal. Liminal is a UK studio, which explores the relationship between, sound, space and listening. Of This Parish was made possible with support from the Arts Council England.
- Title: Of This Parish
- Country of Production: Portugal
- Year of Production: 2014
- Running Time: 24:59
- Director: David Prior
- Text: David Prior and Frances Crow
- Produced by liminal and binaural/nodar
