BALIAN: A BALINESE TRADITIONAL HEALER

Awards, STATS & PRESS

OFFICIAL SELECTION VIVA FILM FESTIVAL
AUDIENCE CHOICE AWARD

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Evolve & Ascend - Balian: A Candid Glimpse into Balinese Culture and a Transcendental Reality

ROAM Magazine Old True Balinese Healer by Marko Randelovic

Story

Real Balinese healers continue to use the ancient knowledge of their ancestors to treat people without expecting anything in return.

I Gusti Mangku Sumantra is a traditional healer from the Gianyar region of Bali who has been healing people since the 1970s when his father passed away.

Bali has a long tradition of Bali Usada, also known as Balinese traditional healing. This practice uses natural herbs and spices, holistic therapies and ancient wisdom to cure physical and mental illness.

The Balinese live equally in two worlds: the seen or conscious world called sekala, and the unseen or psychic world, called niskala. In traditional Balinese healing, both of these elements are addressed in order to truly heal an ill patient.

Filming

I shot this film whilst living in Bali for 6 months in 2016 between Ubud and Canggu. This was my first time visiting the island and Balian was the last of 4 films during my time there. It was really great to meet I Gusti Mangku Sumantra and even have him read my palm!