Hot Docs 2023 - Coven
As you might be aware, I currently do not review movies professionally nor independently, but I saw my first documentary at the 30th Hot Docs documentary film festival tonight entitled Coven and I have thoughts! Despite past research and study, I do not consider myself any sort of authority on magic nor witchcraft, so if I say something deeply offensive, I invite you to respond but please don’t put a spell on me, I assure you I’ve got enough problems as it is.
Coven is a documentary directed by Rama Rau about the journey of three millennial women as they delve into their past to gain a better understanding of their identities as contemporary witches. There’s no mistaking this film is about witches but I think the more overarching theme is that it’s about three women’s discovery of themselves and how it enhances the witches that they already are.
There’s something very agreeable to Coven the documentary, there is self-discovery, autonomy over oneself, empowerment, history, and connection. Except that there were a number of instances in which I felt disconnected to the film, and I’m still struggling to figure out exactly why. How much of it is from personal experience, how much from the filmmaker, and how much from something else entirely?
It should be stated, I do not actively practice any religion, but I was raised by a Catholic mother. In my teens and into my early 20’s I did a lot of self-study on Wicca and other occult topics. In more recent years I’ve visited the holy land and visited some early Christianity sites. My interest lies in the history and formation of these vastly different religions that are all paganistic at the root of it all. I have an aversion to organized religion that encompasses Catholicism and Wicca equally, but also take great interest in elements of Christianity and witchcraft alike.
[Note: the remainder of this review will include spoilers… insofar that I talk about places they shot in, and personal facts revealed to the audience during Q&A… it’s not like I’m telling you who the murderer is in a whodunit]
Coven features three women including Laura who traces her lineage to multiple witch ancestors, Andra who reconnects with her Romanian heritage and meets with a powerful Romani witch, and Ayo who connects strongly with a Russian mystic from a past life prompting her learn more about her abilities. Their stories are brought together by Rama Rau, who seems to have a genuine interest and affection in their tales, but while she claims to a believer of magic, she does confirm in Q&A that it was part of her upbringing to consult shamans and persons of mystical power, but she herself does not practice magic nor witchcraft.
I’m not saying that Rau doesn’t properly give voice to these women, or that she’s represented witchcraft incorrectly, but what we’re presented with feels more like an outsider looking in rather than a witch seeking genuine representation. It feels like it’s about journey and the power of women first (nothing wrong with this) played out against the background of witchcraft. There are many poignant and moving messages, very personal scenarios, and emotional portrayals, but I can’t help but think a Wiccan for example wouldn’t have taken quite the same approach.
Laura seeks several different channels before delving into her ancestry, including a meeting and initiation into a coven led by a Gardinerian Priestess. While I have vague context into what this title means, Rau makes no attempt at explaining though I'm of the belief that it carries connotations. A later remark by Laura indicates her decision to focus more on self-practice, so I can’t help but wonder whether some of these earlier segments are really necessary.
Other elements that come to mind while on the topic of necessity are Stonehenge and Sighisoara. The opening shot of the film is of the citadel of Sighisoara, better know as Vlad Tepes’ castle, who is of vampire lore having nothing to do with witches. There is a lovely voiceover citing a myth about the creation of witches from dragon’s blood, but this is a flimsy tie-in at best.
I was also confused by the images of Laura walking through Stonehenge, first I was confused how one gets access to trapse through the site today as it’s forbidden. Fancy camera work perhaps? But that evolved to why she was there at all when her ancestry was tied to Salem, Massachusetts and Scotland. Recall: Stonehenge is in England. One can’t help but feel Rau is placing power and significance on places that have nothing to do with the people in the film and only for their geographical convenience.
It could be said that I’m approaching these stories from my perceived inconsistencies, which explains why I seem to have to least to remark upon regarding Ayo aka Witch Prophet’s story, because I know so little about Caribbean sorcery and voodooism. Her Christian upbringing is completely relatable, and I don’t know if I believe in past lives, but admittedly if reincarnation is real, I feel strongly that I was Russian in a past life as well. Rau met Ayo separately while seeking a women of colour to complete the trio for the documentary.
Whether you have a developed knowledge of witchcraft, or whether you’re able to connect with these women’s tales, there’s no denying Rama Rau’s Coven sparks a ton of discussion. There is one more screening of Coven at Hot Docs on May 5th, 2023 at TIFF Bell Lightbox.