Double Bill - A Local Goddess's Birthday + Devagan

A Local Goddess’s Birthday: In the heart of Binshe village, Shaoxing, an ancient tradition unfolds each year—a three-day celebration honoring a local goddess with the haunting melodies of “The Story of Pipa,” performed exclusively by female Yue opera artists. As the villagers intertwine myth, history, and devotion, the lines between reality and legend blur, revealing a tale where music bridges worlds and ancestral echoes linger on sacred stones.

Devagan: The term devagan refers to a group of Newar men who embody goddess Durgā in the 500-year-old Nava Durgā ritual in Bhaktapur, Nepal. Through the stories of three devagans within a single family, the film explores the transmission of myth, ritual knowledge, and devotion across generations. In addition to the ritual performance, the film also focuses on the devagans’ daily lives, revealing their hard work backstage and the challenges they face.