Neil Diamond's documentary So Surreal: Behind the Masks adeptly explores the complexities of repatriation, recounting the Indigenous history behind ceremonial masks and their misappropriation.
As Diamond travels from New York to Alaska and the northwest of Canada, he unearths hidden histories of Yup'ik and Kwakwa̱ka̱ʼwakw cultures, emphasizing the spiritual significance of their masks.
The film highlights how governmental policies aimed at suppressing Indigenous traditions led to the seizure of cultural artifacts, stripping communities of their heritage and spiritual practices.
Diamond engages viewers intimately, acting as a humble guide through the convoluted paths of ownership that underscore the cultural theft by museums and collectors.
[
Collection
]
[
|
...
]