The Tribal Eye โ Season 1, Episode 2: Crooked Beak of Heaven
Documentary โข 50 min โข 1 season, 7 episodes โข โ 8.8/10
Episode synopsis
The Northwest Coast Haida, Gitksan and Kwakiutl Indians inhabit a beautiful, harsh land along the coast of British Columbia and south to Oregon. Pre-eminent carvers of wood, they created totem poles that are among the largest wooden sculptures ever made by man. Integrating footage made of tribal rights by Edward Curtis in 1912, the film contrasts them with those same rights today. The spectacular theatrical genius of these people is particularly vivid during the dance of the cannibal birds known to the Kwakiutl as โthe crooked beak of heaven.โ
About The Tribal Eye
David Attenborough explains the enormous growth of interest in tribal art, and explores the emotions which lie behind the masks and decorations of primitive people.