A Bigger World (Un monde plus grand)

A BIGGER WORLD

Hi there! - Hi.

I brought you some stuff from the market.

Thanks, Louise.

Hey, it wasn't that fresh to start with.

It's really showing now.

You're not eating much, huh?

That's the best take so far.

Liar. - Can we hear it, please?

I...

I didn't record it.

Sorry.

I have a problem with the preamp.

We'll redo it.

Forgive me.

I can't do it, it's too hard.

Perhaps you could...

Remember that documentary series project

about spirituality across the globe?

At the time, you wouldn't do it because of Paul.

We have a few more to do.

We have the texts but not the sound. We need soundscapes.

Prayers, religious songs, local music...

Interested?

Er...

I think it would do you good to get back in the field.

Where would I be going?

If I recall, it's either African marabouts,

Mongolian shamans or Tibetan monks.

Which is furthest away? - Furthest away?

Yeah. - I don't know.

I'll send you the file, take a look, then...

You won't forget Paul's plant? - No.

This trip will do you good.

We'll see.

Thank you.

We get out here.

Here. Go round the ovoo three times,

throw your pebbles and make a wish.

The spirits are always

on top of a mountain.

Corine, come on.

Your bathroom.

No shower tonight, then?

Not tonight, not tomorrow.

See you later. - See you later.

Naraa?

Do you think the shaman would like some table mats?

The Tsaatan don't have tables.

The offerings aren't for the shamans.

They're for the spirits. What they like

is alcohol, sugar, biscuits.

Corine, wait for me here.

Corine, get your offerings and come.

You go in first.

Wait.

With your right hand.

She's asking for your name.

Corine. - Cori...

Corine? - Yes.

Do you have a husband and children?

No.

She said that...

if you marry a Mongolian and become

a beautiful Mongolian girl, that would be good.

Is it OK for me to record the ceremony?

Wait a while for that.

Don't push her, please.

You can give your offering now.

With both hands.

I thought it was for the spirits.

She's making an offering to the sky,

to the wind,

to the earth.

Like this?

Three times. - Three times.

Then I drink.

She says you are sad.

What is she doing?

The woman can't get pregnant.

So she's doing what has to be done.

What are all the bells and twisted cords for?

They protect from bad encounters and harmful beings.

Corine?

What happened?

I need to go outside.

Why did you bring me this stranger?

Do you realize what you have done?

This woman is a shaman.

She almost died.

Last night, the spirit of the wolf entered you.

He gave you his powers.

You must now learn how to use them.

You are not here by chance.

You must have had a big problem

in your life before coming here.

You must stay here for your apprenticeship.

You must do this.

If you don't do what the spirits have decided for you,

your life will be even worse.

I won't stay here.

That woman freaks me out.

What's with her witchcraft crap? "Do as I say or else".

I didn't sign up for this. I'm here for a documentary.

Why did she say that stuff?

Shit!

I've just lost my husband, that's hard enough!

The shaman said a spirit was watching over you.

It must be him.

I don't know what you're talking about.

But I don't want to know.

Shit!

She's asking if you saw him. - Who?

Tseren, the spirit of the mountain.

All shamans who go into the forest see him.

No.

Yesterday evening,

the spirit watching over me, you said it may be my husband.

Does that mean shamans can communicate with the dead?

Yes.

Shamans can communicate with the spirits of the dead.

During the trance, the shaman's spirit goes to the dark land.

If it doesn't find its way back to its body, it's very dangerous.

That's why she needs to teach you.

Tell her I can't stay here.

She says you have no choice, Corine.

It is your destiny.

I'll be shaman in another life.

You will return for your training.

She says to use this at home.

You will purify yourself.

Go, Corine.

Thanks for the shoes.

Is that you screaming?

That's crazy.

I don't understand what happened.

I had lost control,

I was like an animal.

Yet I saw myself trying to catch that drum.

I saw myself fight with the shaman.

But I couldn't stop myself.

Perhaps some sort of delirium?

The Mongolians say it is triggered by the drum

and that only happens to shamans.

They think I have powers.

Magic powers?

I don't know.

A gift...

They told me Paul was there.

What do you mean?

They say shamans can communicate with people who are...

I don't think this trip set you on the right path.

Don't you think you should go to see a doctor?

Don't you mean a vet?

Making progress? - Yes.

Want to hear it? - Sure.

OK, wait...

What's that noise?

What noise?

You can't hear it? - No.

You OK?

Yeah, forget it.

Right, this is...

the little woman singing.

A touch of Jew's harp, for example.

That's good.

It's not finished. - No worries.

I need to get on. - OK.

Don't you want to take a break? - No thanks.

See you later. - Yes.

Sir? Professor Laureys, please?

That way. - Thank you.

Any family history of psychiatric problems?

No, nothing.

Did you read much on the subject?

Could anything have influenced your visions?

No, nothing at all.

That's interesting.

Your vision of the door, for example.

That is very frequent in shamanic stories.

Do you believe in the invisible world, spirits, all that?

As researcher, I don't believe.

I observe and try to understand.

It's...

Is something wrong inside my mind, then?

What day is it today? - Thursday.

And what year? - 2007.

Did you tell lies when you were a child?

Like any other child, I guess.

Has your interest in sexual acts recently increased?

Keep your eyes shut. - No.

Do you think you have a special gift or power?

Open your eyes. - What do I say to that?

Answer honestly.

I don't know, perhaps.

Do you think thoughts can be put into your head?

In your opinion?

Do you think strange forces work on you, as if you were hypnotized?

Or a magician was working on you?

The brain scan is normal.