Film screening of "The Sacrifice" followed by Q&A with director Robert Lemelson

Monday, February 10, 2025
2:30 PM - 5:00 PM (Pacific Time)
Bunche Hall, Rm 10383

Since childhood, Ketut Sudirta has lived with severe mental illness. His tumultuous adulthood is shaped by episodes of instability and violence: he wanders the streets, violently attacks his half-sister, is incarcerated and hospitalized, and questions his own existence. Ketut is also a fond friend and family member who tries to live a fruitful life, and participates in an ambitious healing process to address and redress the wrongs of which he seems a part.

A Balinese family compound grapples with severe mental illness, violence, and suicide.

This longitudinal ethnographic film is shot and narrated by Ketut’s childhood friend and explores the grief, concern, and culturally-informed meaning-making surrounding a deeply troubled life.

NOTE: For mature audiences only due to content featuring violence, animal violence, suicide, and murder.

Robert Lemelson is a cultural anthropologist, ethnographic filmmaker and philanthropist. Lemelson received his M.A. from the University of Chicago and Ph.D. from the Department of Anthropology at the University of California Los Angeles. Lemelson’s area of specialty is transcultural psychiatry; Southeast Asian Studies, particularly Indonesia; and psychological and medical anthropology. He currently is a research anthropologist in the Semel Institute of Neuroscience UCLA, and an adjunct professor of Anthropology at UCLA. 

Sponsor(s): Center for Southeast Asian Studies