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A MONTH OF
HUNGRY GHOSTS
About the Film: Every year in parts of Asia during the seventh lunar month it is believed that the gates of Hell are opened and all the souls are set free to wander the earth. At this time many spirits roam around trying to fulfill their past needs, wants and desires. These are the "hungry ghosts." Many religious rituals and folk performances, such as street operas, take place during the seventh lunar month in order to try and appease the spirits. This documentary film captures the seventh lunar month rituals in Singapore, a world class center of business and culture inhabited by many different immigrants from other Asian countries. Although the hungry ghost rituals originated in China and are still practiced throughout Southeast Asia in various forms, they are slowly dying out in many countries or may only be performed for a few days out of the month. Singapore is unique in that the rituals are brought to life throughout the entire seventh lunar month. At the same time, the immigrants to Singapore have brought their own native rituals to one small island country where hungry ghost month still thrives. "A Month of Hungry Ghosts" captures these rituals and performances throughout an entire seventh lunar month in Singapore. |
