Old Believers - Margaret Hixon

Film by Margaret Hixon
Produced by Margaret Hixon
Cinematographer: Harry Dawson, John Stewart
Sound: Dan Adams, Glenn Micallef
Editing: Harry Dawson
Copyright: 1981, Margaret Hixon
29 minutes, Black and White
Original format: 16mm, 1981

Old Believers

Old Believers is a documentary about the live of the Old Believers - also know as the Old Ritualists. They are a Russian religious community that, since the restructuring of the Russian church in the 1660's, had to roam around the world to keep there traditions alive. They ended up in countries like Brazil, Turkey, Canada and the USA. Even with all the migrating throughout the centuries they were able to stick to there traditions. Up until this day - well, the day this documentary was shot for sure - they still live by there old beliefs.

Margaret Hixon's focus is on one of the villages in Oregon and here she is witness to a traditional wedding. The viewer gets to be with them throughout the whole process, the folkloristic art, the rituals, the praying and singing.

Some interest in this topic is required - and in my case there most definitely is - to truly enjoy this documentary. It is very interesting to see that in this ever changing world there are still some communities that stick with there traditions and beliefs. Old Believers makes you a witness.

"A strikingly beautiful film... the film's visual delights...lead us to a clearer understanding of the cultural values that lie at the heart of Old Believer society."
- Richard Meyer, Journal of American Folklore