Serenades Film Analysis

‘Serenades’ is a film set in central Australia that explores the mixing and relations between cultures in the 1890’s. It follows the story of Jila, the child of an aboriginal woman named Wanga, whom was given away for one night to an Afghan cameleer Shir Mohammed as payment of a gambling debt. Jila was raised and taught about aboriginal spirituality by her grandfather in her early childhood, but when her mother and grandfather both die, she is brought into the German missionary and is baptized into Christianity. She is then taken by her father and pronounced a Muslim. Unsure of her identity and beliefs, she grows into a woman which we come to sympathises with. In deep distress and finding no comfort from the Muslim or Christian faiths,
The Lutheran church pastor doesn’t approve of the fact that Muslims have a right to practice their religion. When practicing Salat al-Zuhr (the early afternoon prayer) and after dropping the supplies, he states; “I wish they didn’t have to put on a show every time they deliver the goods”, which is a very disrespectful and ignorant statement. They are simply performing the ritual movements, not “putting on a show”, as he says. Again, when they want pork for Christmas, he is very indifferent over the fact that touching swine meat is against his religion, as it is a type of “haram meat” which they are not to have contact with. (Ilyas Sidyot, S 2010). “I have told you before it is against my religion!” This shows that it isn’t the first time this incident has occurred. Hoffman also doesn’t consider the relationship and spirituality the aboriginals have with their land. Wanga’s totem was the tree that was cut by the church for their Christmas party. This killed her in the aboriginal people’s mind, and Jila’s grandfather says to the pastor “my daughter Wanga was born under that tree. It gave her life, you cut the tree and you cut her life.” The lack of remorse for violating the aboriginal spirituality is seen when the pastor says “don’t be ridiculous, if your daughter has died it is because of disease, it has nothing to do with that tree”, showing not only his disrespect and
Throughout the film she shows the similarities and interactions between religions. This is seen in the last scenes of the film when it cuts between the Christians doing the sign of the cross, Muslims doing there ritual movements of prayer and Jila performing spiritual movements to invoke the protection of her ancestors. This demonstrates how the intolerance to other religions is inane as the similarities between these religions is so evident.

Bibliography
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Lahore Ahmadiyya Movement for the Propagation of Islam, n.d. The Five Daily Prayers:, Ahmadiyya Anjuman Isha 'at-e-Islam, Lahore-- A.A.I.I.L, Netherlands, accessed 18 March 2014, .
Ilyas Sidyot, S (2010) WHY ISLAM FORBIDS PORK?, Imam Islamic Centre Saskatoon, accessed 18 March 2014, .
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Beck, M.Tatz,P.Lewin,R.(2000) Exploring religion, Oxford university Press, Melbourne, second edition, Ch Aborigenal spirituality, pg 18.
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