Dancing for the Dead: Funeral Strippers in Taiwan - Trailer 2

This is a trailer for the documentary "Dancing for the Dead: Funeral Strippers in Taiwan." This is a Marc L. Moskowitz film and is available at Amazon.com.

Funeral strippers work on Electric Flower Cars (EFC) which are trucks that have been converted to moving stages so that women can perform as the vehicles follow along with funerals or religious processions. EFC came to Taiwan's public attention in 1980 when newspapers began covering the phenomenon of stripping at funerals. There is a great deal of debate about whether this should be allowed to continue. In Taipei, Taiwan's capital, one often hears middle and upper class men complain about the harmful effects of this rural practice on public morality. In contrast, people in the industry see themselves as talented performers and fans of the practice say that it makes events more exciting. Dancing for the Dead follows this story, interviewing Taiwan's academics, government officials, and people working in the EFC industry to try to make sense of this phenomenon. The film includes footage from nine different cities across Taiwan, including EFC performances, a funeral, and several religious events.

Official Web Page: http://people.cas.sc.edu/moskowitz/dancingforthedead.htm

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• dancing for the dead
• funeral strippers
• Marc Moskowitz
• Taiwan
• China
• documentary
• ethnographic film
• preview
• trailer

[Leia2049]

Those picture isn't a funeral. it's a religious festival. Maybe they do similar performances at funerals, temple events, and weddings. But still have something different. Director should be more sensitive to distinguish the difference.

[PlayThatDvD]

Count me in

[MrDanbloom]

I recently saw a funeral stripper processsion go by my house in Chiayi around 8 am in the morning. From my 5F window i could see the entire thing. Noisy but colorful and nice. I love it. It seems that a lot of people seem to be ranging from denying the practice exists to taking issue with the fact that the trailers for Dr Moskiwitz's film were at temple events rather than funerals.

[MrDanbloom]

these same folks who do the same performances at funerals, temple events, and weddings--a point that is very clear in the film but not so clear in the trailers. I saw with my own eyes. It's part of Taiwan culture and nothing to be ashamed about. Life is about living, and whether it's an Irish wake or a Jewish sitting shiva cry fest or a Taiwan funeral, long live human culture in all its varied colors and songs. Look, we are all born naked and we all die naked, so enjoy skinship, it's life!

[taiwan1895]

This isn't a funeral - it's a religious festival. I hope the actual film isn't as erroneous as the trailer.

[Banez1991]

Is the translation a joke? ... Because i couldn't stop laughing.