Anthropology

The jungle madness known as Grissi Siknis is a contagious, natural syndrome that occurs among the Miskito of Eastern Central America, effecting mainly young women.  Symptoms include long periods of anxiety, nausea, dizziness, irrational anger and fear, interlaced with periods of frenzy in which the victims loses consciousness, and often  believes devils are beating them.

"Los Voladores" (the Flyers) is a 1500 year-old rite sacred to Quetzalcoatl, the Morning Star. From its origins on the Gulf coast of Mexico, the ritual spread throughout Mesoamerica: a special square was reserved for it in Tenochtitlan, the Aztec capital, and a variant is still known among the Quiche' Maya in Guatemala. Today "Los Voladores" is best known in its original home in the Huasteca region, especially among the Totonac, who have lived in the area for millenia. The version shown in the film is from Huehuetla, in the Sierra Norte de Puebla. Also includes The Tree of Knowledge and Democracia Indigena.