Magia nuda

This is one of the better of the "mondo" flicks to be produced. The film deals mainly with African tribal magic, and life in general, but also shows a lot of interesting sights the world over. Emphasis here is on graphic and violent footage, and sex, as there is quite a bit of fairly graphic footage, although overall, it does not seem to truly exploit this footage, it merely shows a world quite different from the one that "civilized" man lives in. In doing this, the film creates much more of an impact, and is quite an interesting and sometimes educational film for viewers who can handle it.

I must say I didn't enjoy this movie as much as I hoped I would. It was more on the voodoo and ritualistic side than any film by the makers of the "CANE" movies, but its candidness did appeal to me. However about an hour into it I lost interest and didn't finish the rest of it. Another thing is that it felt too fake, sometimes it was too obvious. But if you would like something to spark the imagination and have too much time on your hands, you'll like it.

MONDO MAGIC will make you lose your lunch. After spending considerable time with a filthy African tribe, the "producers" cross the water to find another equally filthy South American tribe. Animals are slaughtered, prepared and eaten by hand; bodily fluids and excreta are glorified and liberally distributed across the screen; nearly everybody is naked, nearly all the time.

The narrator says this is all tied in with "magic," but MONDO MAGIC is hardly a serious study of primitive magic or religion. It's more like a montage of disgusting scenes that are probably 100% authentic. (Circumcised African tribesmen don't shock me since the rite is ancient and originated in Africa, whence came the Israelites).

The Intermedia DVD version I saw this evening was "re-edited," and clocks in at 84 minutes -- the "sex magic" seems to have been cut from the film. Crude anatomy lessons are plentiful, however.

My review was written in October 1984 after a screening at Liberty theater on Manhattan's 42nd St.

"Shocking Cannibals" is an Italian shockumentary made in 1974 under the more accurate title "Naked Magic", currently imported as a gross-out exploitation film. Despite the prestigious names of producer Alberto Grimaldi (whose PEA banner coproduced) and high-minded narration written by novelist Alberto Moravia, film is a relentlessly sensationalist look at primitive peoples that is very difficult to endure, even for the hardened 42nd Street grindhouse devotees.

The only cannibals here, and that's really stretching it, are an Indian tribe living on the Amazon river who pulverize the bones of their dead tribesmen and mix the dust with a banana mash for an annual ritualistic drink, meant to allow the dead folks' souls to go free into the next world.

Cheap thrills-seekers have plenty of non-cannibalistic activities to observe, ranging from primitive survival activities of African tribesmen living around the White Nile river, Ethiopian medical and metaphysical (exorcism) rituals, and that old standby, the Filipino healer who perform magical operations on camera, removing cysts, tumors and leftover props from "The Exorcist" out of people's bellies without leaving any sign of an incision.

Moravia's text intones against the evils of civilized man despoiling the primitives' world, but what we watch is an extremely narrow view of their existence, namely the rituals and both food-seeking and sacrificial slaughter of animals. This is sheer exploitation, and he inclusion of nearly hardcore sex scenes on camera further ensures the picture an X rating, though the dozen or so fictional and docu-style brutality films (mostly Italian-made) currently floating around Stateside are not usually submitted to he MPAA's rating board.

From a ethnographic perspective, these "staged" performances are rare glimpse into tribal customs that were, in essence, an adaptation to the land. Hunter gatherer societies around the world, have been "practicing" their lifestyles for over 40 000 years.

I viewed the 93min Italian dialog version, and I do not speak the language so relied on the "archival footage" to tell the story. I will leave it to the viewer to discern between the real and "fake" footage.

The anthropologist/documenter, is still the "guest" amongst these tribes, and as such, has the rights, roles and responsibilities of an uninitiated child. And are only shown the everyday world of these people and not their secret sacred lifestyle.

The "perfect circumcision" is a result of practices that surpass the written record. eg Aborigines in the desert regions of Australia practice circumcision and subincision.

I think you will find these tribes in Africa are no longer living there traditionally. (I hope I am wrong!) What was their land, has too much gold, diamonds, and those rare elements that are needed for mobile technology, and as such, has been taken over by governments and corporations.

Some might say exploitation I say culturally significant