With exquisite deftness a team of Tajik men perform the several stages that shape, mold and cast in wet sand their iron plow shares. Crude molten pig iron is poured into these molds and left to cool. Then the mold is broken and the cast iron heads are filed to fit over the wooden plow used for tilling the fields. Over the centuries this ancient craft, like a dance, has achieved economy of action, and perfect timing.
Films » Casting Iron Plow-Shares
Casting Iron Plow-Shares
Alternative Title: N/A
Series Title: Mountain Peoples of Central Asia
Summary:
Description:
Edited Film
Country/Location: Badakhstan (Northeastern Afghanistan)
Tribe or Group: Tajik
Cinematographer: Hermann Schlenker
Production Company: IFF
Running Time: 11 min.
Decade Produced: 1970s (edited)
Years Distributed: -1972
Film Gauge: 16mm
Stock: B&W Safety
Footage Count: 386'
Sound: Un-narrated, Native Music
Notes: Shot and edited before African Village Life films. IFF took Schlenker's footage and cut into 14 separate films. Schlenker owns OCN. There are 14 titles in the Mountain Peoples of Central Asia series: 10 were released first in 1969, 4 were released in 1972.
