Nushen de guxiang

The Mosuo live at the heart of a mountainous region difficult of access, bordering of Sichuan, Tibet and Yunnan. Situated in a magnificent setting, at 3,700 metres altitude, by the lake Luguhu, they have organized a matriarcal type of society which has persisted up to nowadays. Marriage is non-existent, union completely free and maternal filiation alone is recognized. Mosuos are spread out over a vast territory and have contact with other ethnic groups such as the Tai~ the Awa and the Aini. They are practicing Lamaists. The shooting of the film was staggered over a period of five months which allowed the film-maker to observe at leisure everyday life behaviour and to be present at several important gatherings: religious feasts, a young girl’ s initiation ceremony, horse races which are also a pretext for romantic meetings between young people who court each other with songs.