Suriname Social: Film Screening & Tasty East Asian Bites | SF

Submitted by the Event Organizer

Come join in for an informal evening of sharing and exploring Surinamese culture and migration complexities at the Surinamese Social at SAFEhouse for the Performing Arts with Shanti Ganesh. They will watch and discuss the 1976 Surinamese movie Wan Pipel (one people), directed by Pim de la Parra, while enjoying tasty samples from the country’s culinary diversity.

About the film:
Wan Pipel is the first movie about Suriname after they gained independence from the Netherlands in 1975. It is made by a Surinamese director and it addresses the racial tensions between the Blacks and the East Indians in Suriname as well as the complexities around forming a Surinamese identity.

The movie itself caused much public unrest and outraged the conservative East Indian community of Suriname. After the movie release, the East Indian lead actress reported having been raped and molested multiple times in Suriname as a repercussion for portraying romantic involvement with a black man and she eventually had to flee the country. While the star of the lead male actor kept rising after the movie, the life of the lead actress fell to shatters.

How to put this complex mix of colonialism, racial tensions, patriarchy and misogyny into context? After watching the movie we will engage in an informal discussion about these social and cultural aspects of the movie and its aftermath.

Surinamese food:
Through all of the Surinamese migration complexities, one thing remained: good food. Exceptional dishes have emerged in this cultural melting pot, some of which they hope to share with you during the Surinamese Social @ SAFEhouse.

This evening of cultural exploration will be in relaxed Surinamese style: some music, some food, some images, some stories, perhaps some dancing, some more food and plenty of good times. There’s no need to prepare anything, just bring your curiosity. Doors will open at 6:15 pm with the program beginning at 6:30 pm and lasting until approximately 10:00 pm.

Presented by SAFEhouse for the Performing Arts

Disclaimer: Please double check event information with the event organizer as events can be canceled, details can change after they are added to our calendar, and errors do occur.