THE SACRED IN THE SECULAR (PÜHA ILMALIKKUS) # 99
11:00, Wednesday 17th June, Cinema 3
Director/Anthropologist: Karin Leivategija, The University of Manchester
Year of Release: 2014
Duration: 26 mins
Country of Production: Estonia/UK
Location: Estonia
Ethnic Group: Estonian
Language: Estonian with English subtitles
My film explores the relationship between secular and religious life. Toomas is an Estonian Orthodox clergyman who as well is committed to music. He expresses that commitment through being an ethno and reggae music DJ. It is a combination that comes across as surprising and raises questions even in a largely secular country like Estonia. Due to the conservative history of the church it is often believed that there is no place for liberal expression in religious life. I set out to explore whether the gap between religious and secular life is as wide as it is typically assumed.