Bird of the Thunderwoman

In the Southern Highlands of Papua New
Guinea the Wola people are preparing
for a long awaited event which they call
the “Sa”. Unlike the materialists of the
West, the Wola accumulate wealth only
to give it away as gifts. They have no
formal laws or police , and this
continuous cycle of gift exchange helps
to bind them together in a leaderless
society. The traditional items of wealth
-pigs , pearl shells and the cassowary ,
“the bird of the thunderwoman”, are
highly valued by the Wola. The film
shows how a small group of the Wola
prepare for the “Sa” , and gives us an
insight into their daily lives.