Comments on: TV exploits of Satirical Documentary Maker John Safran: A Retrospective

By: Sean Carmody

Sean Carmody — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 08:54:41 +0000

krangsquare: it may be “just a crucifixion”, but that doesn’t stop it being a bizarre Philippines Easter ritual.

By: krangsquared

krangsquared — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 10:33:24 +0000

It’s not a “bizarre Philippines Easter ritual”. It’s just a crucifixion! And we also have people who wear a crown of thorns and march through the streets flagellating their backs. Very very few Filipinos go this far. Often it’s people who want to punish themselves or want to thank God for healing/helping them. The Philippine version of Christianity is a mix of local, indigenous rituals, animist beliefs (ie, jesus on a tree bark, that sorta stuff) and hardline Catholic dogma. Thankfully most people are not as hardcore or fundamentalist in their approach to religion. The most some people do is go to church, but avoid all that “no birth control” BS of the Catholic church.

The best Safran moment for me is when he walked around naked in Israel, near the Palestinian border. Balls of steel, man. I think it was on Race around the World (why doesn’t the ABC put that on DVD? that was an awesome series. They own the damn thing, it’s not like it’s going to be shown again since it’s so old anyway)

By: Maree K

Maree K — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 08:05:45 +0000

I’m pretty sure his race around the world audition is on the music jamboree dvd extras.

Safran’s fearlessness always amazes me. I love his stuff.

By: Casper Christensen

Casper Christensen — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 16:49:32 +0000

I’m not really sure If I like this dude.
On one hand I think he goes to far, and on the other I think it’s good that someone pushes the limits..