Interpretation of the Popular Ballad from the Documentary Graţian by Thomas Cuilei

Authors:

Pages: 77-90
DOI: https://doi.org/10.54664/KMXO2952

Abstract:

The ethnological (and anthropological) documentary Graţian, directed by Thomas Ciulei in 1995, uncovers a contemporary werewolf case in a rural area in Western Romania. Combining both observational and expository modes while presenting the unusual lifestory of its protagonist and the opinions of the village people, the documentary also analyzes the origins of this popular myth and reflects how the metamorphosis capacity attributed to the main character is interpreted by the social community he has been accepted into. The Romanian ballad recited by one man at the beginning of the documentary sets an introductory stage direction and offers both a paratextual comment on the main storyline and a post-factum narrative of a real child loss on the mythical canvas of this particular werewolf story.

Keywords:

ethnological documentary; lycanthropy; Romania; observational mode; expository mode; popular ballad

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