Byrne captures some fascinating footage throughout the film Ilé Aiyé or The House of Life. Ilé Aiyé explores the ways in which Candomblé has influenced the daily life and culture of the people of Brazil. Many visual senses depict festivals, ceremonies, dances, food, clothing, jewelry, and music, which clearly show how African roots influenced Brazilian traditions. I thought it was very substantial how Byrne included personal interviews to demonstrate the purpose of culture and religion. For instance, according to Gil Vicente Barbosa, he describes a festival where people got together for over 40 years ago to dance in the streets with the same rhythms and music. They get together and dress up all in white to express themselves and symbolize peace. Also, the film mentions how nature is sacred. A stone is not only a stone but it is a place where a God expresses himself. Nature is a place that is always susceptible to many manifestations of the sacred. I also thought the ending scene that showed a trans was very interesting. I learned that the trans is a kind of control that is attributed to the Oshum. It is a manifestation of the God that is present there. A trans is the moment when the God arrives and when the faithful who are watching the ceremony see a person in a trans that is the moment when the faithful come in contact with the Gods and come together with the Gods. This is considered to be the deep meaning and great beauty of the trans.
Review of Îlé Aiyé
