Touched by Water

Alerted to this new film this morning by CBC Arts Online, Touched By Water, opening at the Montreal World Film Festival this week.

"Shot in 13 countries over the course of 10 years, the exquisite Touched by Water is both an ode to the social ritual of public bathing and a thought-provoking look at water’s spiritual significance. From Christian baptism to Muslim prayer ablutions, most key ceremonial rites of passage involve water. “I wanted to make a film to try to understand humanity’s relationship with water, to get at the essence of what bathing meant in different cultures,” (filmmaker Tamas) Wormser says.

The film is narrated by Quebec actor Jean Marchand, while the original music by Ganesh Anandan and Dino Giancola provides an aural backdrop to Wormser’s lush images. We see bodies sponged down with soft foam in steamy Turkish hamams and underwater shots of Hungarians dancing at a spa rave party in Budapest. Wormser joined the ruddy-faced men of the Finnish sauna association, who, after sweating together, whip themselves with birch branches and dive into the frigid Baltic Sea."

Looks like it will be worth checking out when it hits theatres (The French version of Touched by Water [Eaux de vie] screens at the Montreal World Film Festival on August 29). For more on the festival check out the Montreal Mirror's reviews on their website here

And speaking of water did you know that:

- It appears colourless to the naked eye in small quantities, though it can be seen to be blue with scientific instruments or in large quantities (as in a swimming pool)?
- Thales of Miletus -an early Greek philosopher known for his analysis of the scope and nature of the term "landscaping,"- believed that "all is water"?
- Water strongly absorbs infra red radiation, and as infra red radiation is next to red-coloured light on the electromagnetic spectrum, a small amount of visible red light is absorbed as well (translation: Water absorbs more of the red light in sunlight; the water also enhances the scattering of blue light).

Food for thought when applying your waterproof sunscreen, no?