Inside the last matriarchy in Europe - BBC REEL

Described as the last matriarchal society in Europe, the women on the Estonian islands of Kihnu and Manija are in charge of everything on the island. But the younger generation is moving away from the islands, putting this unique culture and identity at risk of getting wiped out.
Video by Anders Jørgensen
Executive Producer: Camelia Sadeghzadeh
#bbcreel #bbc #bbcnews

[@whoareyou7399]

The villages with such attitude exist not only in Estonia, but also in Latvia, Lithuania, Ukraine, Russia, Belarus. Women there did most of the farm because many men died or were crippled by war.

[@2010annaalexandra]

Romania too

[@ivanorlan]

agree, this looks just like any village in deep Russia, where all men gone to cities looking for work or died of war, alchogol, age or all together.

[@Maryland_int]

Exactly! My grandma can do all the men work just because she had to learn since there was not so much help from the man’s side.

[@GMH-xl4lu]

Like in Almost every country in Eastern Europe!

[@alexaackermann6209]

@@2010annaalexandra TRUE

[@Obstgeist7]

Why didnt anyone ask the women though? I dont wanna see a documentary about a phtographer, i wanna see a documentary about those women.

[@ivetgeorgieva8888]

I'm guessing it's because of the travel restrictions right now.

[@prettypuffprincess]

Exactly

[@cfv1984]

Consider making one instead?

[@thelastofthehitachi972]

the book is BIG HEART, STRONG HANDS

[@Obstgeist7]

@Alex Evans if you understand some german i can really recommend the documentary "ein jahr auf kihnu" Maybe that would help getting the stick out of your arse

[@CreditFast]

The photography is just stunning. The vivid colors illuminate the soul and character of the inhabitants. The lives of these people needed to be documented.

[@riel5197]

Wishing them good luck from West Sumatra, land of the Minangkabau, matriarchy community on the otherside of the world.

[@retribution999]

I have been to West Sumatra. It's a very beautiful place.

[@novayu666]

what bullshit

[@riel5197]

@@novayu666 care to explain what's bullshit?

[@creativepop8196]

@@novayu666 what is bullshit

[@nicowithrow4390]

@@novayu666 come on coward

[@heigohausenberg4949]

An estonian here. Lovely that you showed the positive aspects of their lives. But as many of the commentators pointed out- where are the young people. This clip is actually showing a big part of estonian rural life. There is no work in rural areas and all the young people are in the cities or abroad. And consider also the fact that estonian women live 8 years longer in avarage than men. Overworking, alcoholism, recless behaviour etc. If a woman marries a man who is 4 years older than she, then the women has to live the last 12years of her life alone. Thats a tradegy if you think about it. They show mostly old women in this video because they are the only ones left. It so common in rural Estonia. Kihnu is a remote island and the isolation of those old women is even more visible.

[@SylvesterStaline.]

Well if he is useless in domestic things, reckless behavior and constantly drunk is that a bad thing? (Joking 😉)

[@helenhunter4540]

But are they isolated? They have each other!

[@alpachino7659]

4:13 Are they Orthodox Christians? I did't know there were Orthodox people among Estonians.

[@oOIIIMIIIOo]

It is not a tradegy to live without a man.

[@Theorimlig]

@@oOIIIMIIIOo Of course it is, if you were married to him and knew him for most of your life.

[@MusicaDelCaribe]

This is a normal village in Eastern Europe.. especially because its mostly older women who are left in the most desolate rural areas

[@eedragonr6293]

It's interesting to see what was her Norwegian grandmother doing?

[@ISPRI2011]

..."The last matriarchy in Europe"?...IT IS NOT!...all over Eastern Europe in the countryside is more or less the same.

[@saragarofano9727]

Okay "Lucian"

[@flaviaanamaria5826]

Mda, in special in Romania =)))))) that was funny

[@Jabafish]

Yeah that's true

[@DidiGrooves]

I agree. I'm from Latvia and when I was growing up, this is what I encountered visiting the dad's side of the family in a super rural area.

[@sonjak8265]

Southeast Europe too. Montenegro, where my father is from, is still a matriarchal society.

[@justinmileman7863]

I'm pretty sure there's another video about this place floating around. In that one one of the women said life is very peaceful there, the only time there's trouble is when the men are home from the sea.

[@rhonda6791]

Shocker there.

[@sociologica4247]

@@rhonda6791 Yes I saw a video of a half Kihnu half Canadian and she said that is not really a matriarchal society but more that man leaves for a long time and they take care of themselves when men are there their decision is what goes 1st. The only matriarchal society I know of is The Mosuo, really run by women for 2000yrs

[@dorotheasav8575]

@@sociologica4247 sounds like BCC has a very lax definition of matriarchy.

[@eedragonr6293]

Scarlett O'Hara. But yeomanry never had slaves.

[@SoVerySasa]

which means its not a matriarchy, its a patriarchy. so bizarre they would glorify this lifestyle which is held by most women around the world. if this is a matriarchy than so is all of the developing world.

[@Shy-xm4kn]

The definition of “anything you can do I can do bleeding”. Strong people, both women and men.

[@robinlillian9471]

Ginger Rodgers did every dance step with Fred Astaire, but backwards and on heels.

[@copeharder7554]

Cringe

[@femalesupremacistoverlord6800]

@Cope Harder The reason for your existence is "cringe"? You dishonor your foremothers

[@copeharder7554]

@@femalesupremacistoverlord6800 I almost got aborted you don't deserve my respect

[@ashsqx3246]

No not men. Only women. Men don't menstruate.

[@koiv3956]

problem is, kihnu isnt a matriarchy. That idea is only pushed by foreigners and Kihnulased dont say or think kihnu is a matriarchy. Please dont lie about my homeland.

[@khanusmagnus577]

shut up

[@the500mphtortoise]

if it makes you feel better theyre only saying it to suit their narrative. Nothing personal about your homeland.

[@HomesteadForALiving]

Yep. Propaganda

[@eedragonr6293]

If they are Orthodox, there is a problem : they inherited the laws of the Byzantine Empire. The laws regarding the women 's property were made by the Empress Theodora... a married feminist.

[@Sol-Invictus]

I'd actually blame victorians categorizing everything without realizing that most things are in the grey. Not binary but blurred and we even use words in a blurred and open to interpretation way. This culture actually reminds me of the Scandinavians as they lived traditionally. It says more about us that women outside of a computerized world. Working and doing what needs to be done is a matriarchy. A woman can work part time, while going to college, with a child. And many still consider her at fault for not being married in the USA.

[@bethroesch2156]

I'm appreciative of the photographers and others who help to record the histories of cultures that would otherwise be lost.

[@helRAEzzzer]

It seems that the words "matriarchy" and "patriarchy" are EXTREMELY miss defined in recent years. How are familial records kept, who owns the property, who can inherit from the previous generation, and who is legally "head of the house hold?" What gender does what job doesn't really matter much.... In this place (according to this video), the men work away from home and the women work in the home - that's just a functioning society with specific compromise, not a matriarchy (nor patriarchy for that matter).

[@clicktell1449]

...look, it'a a wonderful, feel good story, about Estonia. As an Estonian, and a woman - we don't get mentioned a lot in global media. So let's just collectively look at our grannies and go "aaaw" :3

[@iamnotgandalf9308]

Yes but that doesn't sell, now does it?

[@FortoFight]

I think in this case it's more about the position that women hold in their culture. The women are more active in the local community because they're present when the men aren't.

[@eedragonr6293]

@@clicktell1449 and you intend to keep it that way, like your grandmothers let it to you or you will have soon another dump there too?

[@jessjose3638]

@@eedragonr6293 who hurt you?

[@julietellsthetruth4811]

Love all the beautiful colors and patterns used in their clothing and their homes.

[@AymenDZA]

the grandma energy is strong in this, reminds me of grandma and how she grew up basically doing things on her own in extreme weather and taking care of her family.

[@peachpink123]

I love the looks in the eyes of these people, so simple and so human. Feels peaceful and strong community sprit. All the best to extreme individualism in modern cities.

[@alecmiller6066]

It’s very East style culture (except isolation thing): old generation from Soviet Union, gone through war, very down earth humble people, there are villages like that in Russia, Ukraine, Belarus etc. Unfortunately because of globalisation it’s a very rare thing, going to extinct in a near future. so thank you for showing that.

[@OLHA767]

Exactly! This is very much like the village where my grandparents lived in Ukraine( Western region ). I was stunned by the similarities in culture, clothes, housing, decor and even crafts. Brought lots of warm memories.

[@knitted_sweater_near_fireplace]

@@OLHA767 I'm from Western Ukraine and my grandparents and a lot of old people have this kind of relationship))

[@riel5197]

That is too bad. We Minangkabau here are quite urbanized, so it does not look traditional anymore. But fortunately people still trying to preserve the cultural structure of the matriarchy, even the men, who actually don't get to own any of the clan's property.

[@rannintai-ryoku9525]

It’s definitely an eastern thing

[@leedlbagginshield8492]

Similar in Albania

[@XLseattle]

This was beautiful. Necessity made this matriarchy possible. In medieval Iberia; Spanish women had a right to own property; enter contracts, and run the family farm or business because the men were away a lot fighting the Moors. To this day Spanish women inherit not only a surname from their father but also one from their mother and they do not change their name upon marriage. Those surnames are their legacy and they will pass one of them on to their children.

[@warcrimeenjoyer881]

But isnt the name at a point so long that it's Impossible to say/write it?

[@MonkeyDLuffy-rr3wl]

@@warcrimeenjoyer881 No, because every Spanish person has 2 surnames. Example: Maria Garcia Gomez, Miguel Perez Sanchez and their children could have the Surname combinations of: Garcia Perez/Perez Garcia, Garcia Sanchez/Sanchez Garcia, Gomez Perez/Perez Gomez, Gomez Sanchez/Sanchez Gomez. I think it's like that, but maybe there's a rule about the which Surename has to come first, which I don't know about.

[@lordpickle65]

@@warcrimeenjoyer881 no, a typical hispanic name has 3 or 4 words: name, second name (this one is optional upon birth as names can be compound), paternal surname, maternal surname. Surnames and names also vary in length. It depends a lot.

[@lordpickle65]

@@MonkeyDLuffy-rr3wl the paternal surname is the one passed upon children so if Maria Garcia Gomez and Miguel Perez Sanchez have a baby it would most certainly be (let's suppose the baby's a girl and her name is Isabel): Isabel Perez Garcia. Gomez and Sanchez (maternal surnames of both parents) become irrevelant to the baby's name. So when Isabel Perez Garcia grows old enough and engages with a Jose Antonio Espinosa Blanco and have a baby boy named Alvaro. The boys name would be: Alvaro Espinosa Perez When Alvaro has kids they will inherit Espinosa from him but not Perez. Sorry.. I'm bored as heck lol.

[@MonkeyDLuffy-rr3wl]

@@lordpickle65 Oh, thank you! I'm a clueless girl from Hungary, but I felt smart enough to answer. Your answer makes way more sense than mine, thank you for that😇

[@madamerage8518]

it reminds me of my grandma. she is a strong willed one, straight forward one.

[@robinlillian9471]

I have known plenty of older women like that.

[@goosenuggets9693]

@@robinlillian9471 As women grow older they begin to produce more testosterone, as men grow older they begin to produce more estrogen.

[@goosenuggets9693]

@@robinlillian9471 Obviously this only happens afer a considerable amount of time (40s-70s).

[@daleenalberts5829]

Thank you so much for sharing this story with me. I was deeply touched. They and YOU are wonderful people.

[@ah5721]

I grew up with a mom who grew up from a single mom . My birth dad was often gone working. When I was a teen I became and orphan and raised by another family . A working mom and working dad they worked together and came home every night. I've seen many different relationships. The best ones are the relationships where there is mutual appreciation and love hardwork and sometimes sacrifice.

[@capricorntarot123]

This is a blessing, such a wonderful place and people.

[@resourcedragon]

@Grey Donovun : Oh, bullshit! They explained that the men are away most of the time fishing. It's called survival. The men are not oppressed - or no more than the women, given that both sexes were under Soviet rule and both sexes appear to live in fairly limited circumstances economically.

[@copeharder7554]

@Grey Donovun Based

[@miglesakalauskaite9060]

My great grandmother who's turning 96 this year, saw both of her parents killed. She left as the oldest child had to rise 6 siblings on her own at the age of 16. Later she had her own kids. She had to run a farm, manage the marriage and children.. nowadays, people are too weak to go through such things. I hardly imagine myself in her shoes....

[@lunarose9]

People go through stuff like that all the time. They are just too busy living their lives to be conplaining on social media. The core of humanity has not changed, it's just the parts of it that you see.

[@miglesakalauskaite9060]

@@lunarose9 you are not wrong. Things like that are constantly happening. The circumstances are different tho.

[@ericarose1979]

It is very touching, anyone who has grown up on a farm knows how hard the work can be, gardening, canning, milking, washing cloths by hand, looks like nothing from a store, everything hand made. This life is also very hard, and most of us today could not do it. We could do some of it, but for how long. From amazon, car hop trays, stay safe.

[@jessjose3638]

We could if we learnt.

[@deborah85728]

Thank you so much for this documentation of these women’s lives . I was deeply moved by it 👏

[@jonnanane7747]

In Budapest you’re identified by your mother’s last name. The mother is always known, the father though, not always sometimes😂

[@eedragonr6293]

Pater semper incertus

[@kucam12mischablue]

this is why the joke: say ”Good day” to all the men you meet, you might not know when you say ”good day” to your father!

[@fan2jnrc]

This is absolutely not a matriarchy. 😊

[@ariadna5910]

I live here. Its matriarchy

[@srinivasvaranasi1645]

Touching and moving. A way of life that is disappearing. Leaves a sense of void.

[@nuzayerov]

It makes me sad how many cultures are disappearing. Also like the Badeshi language in Pakistan, with only 3 fluent speakers left. And also Irish, most Irish can't speak Irish, Irish themselves call Gaelic (Irish) a useless language, and overall "Britishification" is causing them to loose their identity. I hope the cultures can be revived somehow.

[@sopitaaragon6539]

Nope. Globalization will cause many more to die out.

[@00sophiiiie00]

irish is taught in school in ireland and there are still 100,000 ppl in ireland who are fluent in irish and use it as their first language everyday. However many ppl dont like learning irish in school as it's just based around exams and is taught rly badly. A lot of ppl (including me lol) would love to be fluent but school makes us hate it

[@curanki8868]

why? it's not possible to keep every culture alive lol, if there is no need for it then why? it's just a concept (one that does much more harm than good) so if the Irish themselves don't want to speak irish than why should there be an effort to keep it alive? old cultures die and new ones are born, it's only natural that way

[@nuzayerov]

@@curanki8868, you are right, like the "Soviet culture" is an example of a new culture. But I wish Irish and Badeshi could be revived somehow.

[@aleksandersuur9475]

It's one thing to look at other people living in small isolated pockets of archaic culture, it's an entirely different thing to try and live it yourself. There are good reasons why the population there leans heavily towards elderly and why all the capable young people have gone to find better opportunities elsewhere.

[@raphaelmury1446]

Beautiful story that made me think how our society transformed over the years. Would we be able to renounce our modern way of living and live a simple life? That’s a question I have no answer. Thanks for this amazing video!

[@G1CAAAAEO]

You can answer that question if you really want to.

[@oOIIIMIIIOo]

I am on minimalism now.

[@oOIIIMIIIOo]

@Heloise O'Byrne Fridges, washing, washing machines are ok, but think of al the other stuff no one really needs. 30 bowls you never use together and so on.

[@oOIIIMIIIOo]

@Heloise O'Byrne You can habe, what you think, what you need. I don't need a big kitchen and useless stuff for status quo. It was just an overdrawn example. I 'judge' character, not belongings. 😀

[@palomawoma]

I think the future of humanity is reliant on us wanting less. Everything we take has a cost to the planet, our resources are finite and belong to everyone. The actions of a tiny % of greedy humans is destroying what could be a fairer, equitable and healthier way for humanity to live in harmony with our natural parameters

[@Alex_Christin]

Thank you for sharing it.

[@DarcieGlam]

That was so beautiful - thank you! I would love to see them keep going, it's a hard life but such a rich culture.

[@kimturner1963]

Love their beauitful flowered headscarves and dresses!

[@orbitalsatellite]

Old style self-sufficiency without the modern hipster stain.

[@FortoFight]

You say on your phone/PC. Admit it, you're part of the stain too.

[@killerninjaz13]

Even documenting things like this are vital to make sure our worlds history remembered even when time moves on

[@anfisanechehova477]

Thank you. Greetings from Estonia.

[@toocutepuppies6535]

Such a great story. Thank you for sharing these fabulous ladies with us before they're gone. 🙏

[@rvlucky2909]

Thank you very much for showing us a part of our past in the present

[@AV-rm5hx]

what is the folk singing lady called ? i cant find her name

[@hulltydruk]

Kihnu Virve

[@TheHestya]

Latvian and we have a lot of these kind of strong women. Many have been forced to take care of everything because of the wars and afterwards the men have dealt with alcoholism which leaves them useless when it comes to physical work. My grandmother worked her whole life, my mother did too. And that's the normal for many. Things are changing with younger generations, but I still can see a lot of carelessness in young men my age (I'm 27) in Latvia and far more responsibility in women. Which then brings the question why even in places like that men seem to be more likely to take higher positions at workplaces. It's sad how much these women have had to deal with. But they are so beautiful in their strength and resilience. Thank you for archiving their lives.

[@whoareyou7399]

It’s not just in Latvia, I think the lives of old women in villages are pretty similar in all Eastern Europe and Russia. This village really reminded me the russian one were my Grandma lived

[@TheHestya]

@@whoareyou7399 Yes, everywhere really that got severely impacted by the WW2 and the Soviet Union.

[@Pasadena14]

What a beautiful story...great narration as well.

[@letmepickmynameidiot4832]

Based on the information given here, which is close to 0, this is not matriarchy.

[@eedragonr6293]

We are at the chapter machine gun or tank.

[@vananhdinh349]

I love this video, the content, the image. btw, the background music at the end really moved me

[@mihiec]

Great reportage!

[@rufusbayne2230]

Young people leaving the island for a "better" future. A different future maybe but I'm not sure that it's better.

[@oOIIIMIIIOo]

Just my thought. When you are young, you think you need everything, when you are getting older, you experience, that many things are needless. 😀

[@torugho]

I would certainly defend that a city life is better for those seeking it. Many people adapt to different ambients and it's totally up to teenagers if they think living an urban life will make 'em happy

[@Mark-zu6oz]

I would say better for opportunity, education, healthcare, etc. The unfortunate part is that in order to do so, the positive aspects of this way of life have to be abandoned and the community is lost.

[@sizesmall1756]

Important job. Thanks for documenting.

[@lorrainewade6956]

I really enjoyed that thank you

[@natashas857]

Thank you, it reminds me of my grandmother and her friends and my childhood.

[@eksiarvamus]

Note that the Kihnu islanders converted to Orthodoxy in the late 19th century and are therefore quite distinct from the rest of Estonians. They settled the Manilaid islet in the 1930s.

[@piotrnogas8448]

so what was its religion before?

[@eksiarvamus]

@@piotrnogas8448 It was Lutheranism like for Estonians in general, but there was a hoax spread by the local authorities in the 19th century that converts to Orthodoxy would get free land. Especially people in Southwestern Estonia went along with it, but most converted back to Lutheranism after it had turned out to be a lie. Kihnu islanders however retained Orthodoxy.

[@forgottenmusic1]

@@eksiarvamus Yeah, that was part of Russification attempt in the end of 19th century. Another important change was that the Baltic law system, based on Baltic German laws, and German as official local language were replaced with Russian. After the people were converted, they were told: "Of course you can get your free land, just go to places like Siberia to grab it". And, it was forbidden to leave the Orthodox church, so it became possible only after Estonia became independent. While in other areas in Estonia, many rejoined the Lutheran church again, in coastal areas the Orthodox church remained. But, Kihnu was the only area, where the conversion to Orthodox church was total, in any other areas (excluding Setomaa, what was connected to Russia since the medieval time) Orthodox were a minority.

[@dmitriydkoshelk9179]

Thank you very much indeed. My grangrandgrandparents are from Estonia and it's great to touch upon their culture.🤝

[@marianofernandes9330]

Simply wonderful!

[@oldbat2ccats]

What amazing portraits. They look like paintings. Excellent short documentary of a society I never knew about. Thanks BBC

[@soniat1348]

Thank u for reminding us the meaning of humanity and simplicity❤

[@alexandersohn569]

Interesting enough, the Romans used to choose the family name as a female name and centuries on, in a region of Romania (Moldova), family names are chosen after a female name (ie. "Aanei" (Anne's (family)) or Adochiței (Dochița's)). This is different from the rest of the world, where the family name is chosen after a male name.

[@lemmypop1300]

Not really, because a lot of cultures have matronymic names, it's just that patronymic's prevail. In the neighbouring Serbia you have a lot of names based on female ancestors. Serbian last names tend to come from the most prominent ancestor, and there's a lot of women who earned that right, by, for example, being widowed at a young age and then raising a bunch of kids on their own. Last names like Katić (comes from Katarina or Kata for short), Nedić (Neda), Miličić (Milica), Višnjić (Višnja) etc. are all examples of that.

[@alexandersohn569]

@@lemmypop1300 That's interesting, it s very probable it is a slavic thing too. I mean Slavs have the idea of live giving mother and source of life (matrioshka)

[@Aditi-mb3qm]

Even in India. In India too, in ancient India too people were known by their Mother's name not Father's. Like 'Kunti putra Arjun' Kunti - Is the women's, the Mother's name ' putra - means son and Arjun - The persons name So the full name 'Kunti Putra Arjun' Kunti's son Arjun 'Ganga putra Bhishma' etc. and if daughter than after Mother's name its 'putri' than adding daughter's name the same way. Even Gautam Buddha's name comes from 'Gautami' his Aunt who raised him not Father's. And 'Sita pati Ram Chandra' 'Sita's husband Ram' Sita- Name of the wife, Pati - Husband Ram- Husband's name Even while taking couple's name the wifes name always came first before the husbands name. Husband always needed his wife by his side for performing important rituals if there was no wife than husband was not allowed to perform, may he be the King of land but he can't perform important duties without the wife by his side.

[@mrmervinjminky1536]

Scottish Gaelic society used to matriarchal, names used to be passed down from the Mother, etc.

[@iancrawford1382]

If this is true why was so many people named Mc or Mac meaning son of.

[@mrmervinjminky1536]

@@iancrawford1382 Mac means (son), Nic means (daughter) in Gaelic then (insert fathers name) is I think what you mean. This is modern, I’m talking about long long before.

[@peachpink123]

Same in China, used to follow maternal surname

[@nataliebutler]

We were all matriarchal if you go back far enough.

[@slickrick2420]

@@nataliebutler Not all

[@Aester]

Babuska is babuska. Noone can overshadow her.

[@aprilfirstmoon877]

Thankyou for showing us this beautiful story ❤️

[@xxxxxx-hx3vp]

God bless you! For your sensitivity for the beauty one can easily pass by; for saving what is passing just in front of our eyes for future generations❤️

[@RealSalica]

Beautiful short documentary .

[@arzuaksen9751]

Wonderful story, great work

[@luciananunes7044]

Admirable strong women! Exciting reporting, thank you!

[@visnjacvek7784]

Beautiful story and beautiful people ❤️ thank you 🙏

[@thelastofthehitachi972]

her name is ANNE HELENE GJELSTAD and the book is BIG HEART, STRONG HANDS

[@marietteberndsen9587]

Lovely piece of history.

[@idaearl6715]

Thank you

[@janevans5690]

Beautiful, so important to record this history before it is lost. ❤️

[@charonsiouxsie949]

Gjeldstad's images have me taken. I love their wrinkles, her wrinkles, and yours and mine. What beautiful, powerful story this is for me. The younger generstion leaving for a "better future" might also be considered a "different future." Bless you

[@susanboyd5471]

It's like a dream...the photographs are beautiful, rich and textured. I love the textiles.

[@christinah6373]

This documentary is beautiful.❤

[@fravineas]

i cried watching this

[@rommul1389]

Why

[@codygreyeyes1610]

I know right! Its like they forget theres a queen... .. .

[@trollerjakthetrollinggod-e7761]

wuss

[@trollerjakthetrollinggod-e7761]

@Icaleb yes

[@yagalpollyy3721]

embarrassin

Beautiful culture, beautiful photography, amazing story.

[@isabelpacheco4633]

It would be great if you could credit the photographer in the video description and maybe the name of her book! Great video :)

[@frjimomi]

Absolutely awesome. Beautiful and profound - existential and real. Thanks.

[@JoaoMagalhaestaodoreiki]

Amazing work, congratulations.

[@rwaijam]

PROUD OF MY HOMETOWN SHILLONG MEGHALAYA INDIA WE'RE THE INLY MATRIARCHAL COMMUNITY IN INDIA♥️♥️

[@aagneyanakshathra2357]

0:40 0:44 4:26 ..... There is strong and sensitive woman behind that camera...an empathetic human being worthy of capturing these precious heritage .... Great... It's very rare to see such passion for your profession ... Especially those words " a person shall not smile for the photographer ...or otherwise it will be a fake smile..." So wise of you❤️

[@mariannejasmijn8656]

Does anyone know the name of the piece of music starting at 2:41? I think it’s Mozart but I’m not sure

[@resourcedragon]

I read a novel about Wales some years ago which described a tradition in which people would make a sort of nightshirt for themselves and knit white stockings to wear after they died.

[@kathryncarter6143]

I so appreciate all your documentation. And yes; despite the age & the poverty, there's still so much beauty.

[@wolfzmusic9706]

How are they in poverty? They have food & shelter.

[@monsieurtyrell9652]

@@wolfzmusic9706 bestie you did not just say that

[@kathryncarter6143]

@@wolfzmusic9706 just meaning their lives aren't cluttered with piles of material objects. Not that they should, just the way it is.

[@wolfzmusic9706]

@@monsieurtyrell9652 Poverty & being poor are different. Poverty is when you lack basic things like food, shelter, water etc. They clearly do not lack these things.

[@wolfzmusic9706]

@@kathryncarter6143 That isn’t poverty though. Poverty is when you don’t have the basics; being poor is when you don’t have much money & struggle.

[@ChimekaErica]

A unique and forceful documentary, very important, touching, sad as well real. Beautiful people with beautiful stories regardless how harsh the weather has been. Their resilience speaks better. There are many of them. Thanks to BBC for giving us some of life's realities in camera.

[@Elynnewith2N]

Very interesting. Can anyone reference the music please?

[@MiddleEastMilli]

This was very well done and very meaningful. This island is filled with women of great dignity. God bless these women.

[@aagneyanakshathra2357]

The comment section of the video has vivid detailing of other similar rural communities around the globe....as vivid as this particular video....reading these comments make me want to visit each of those places and engrave in myself the precious past long lost

[@swilson5320]

Amazing and chilling

[@evandromonteiro3357]

Could someone please write here the name of the folk singer that they mention on the video?

[@TorchwoodPandP]

Tak!

[@ppaulinka]

What's the name of the photographer? Why is it not in the caption? ...

[@birgit8310]

Does anyone know the music at the end?

[@charlottethehousegoat5960]

Such beautiful photographs.

[@leew8322]

Such a beautiful story to tell. Thank you to these amazing women for sharing their lives with us

[@findyourpassion8722]

Babičky krásne naše = our beautiful Grandmas

[@flirtationdance]

Last matriarchy? Literally all of West Europe is a matriarchy

[@Santiago_Handle]

The background music from 5:00 is beautiful, it would be great if somebody knows the name.

[@sunu84]

Beautiful Dokumentar

[@anja9528]

Soundtrack please!

[@adl9961]

Hello super class videos 👍🙋‍♂️

[@jasminecollins897]

Women doing literally all the work to keep society and households running isn't really a matriarchy. That's just standard, really. There's a reason men have always left the most boring and thankless tasks to women.

[@doingstuffinpublic]

Lmao you have an interesting world view

[@MM-dm4xj]

You havent thought this through

[@RobertSmith-cx2zh]

Like raising kids? Please dont reproduce

[@wackoxmacbhadmus188]

Hmm 🤔 interesting

[@rosem5041]

The Almighty protect these beautiful souls Ameen. You did a fantastic job in showing these people and their lives.its a great honour to witness these beautiful and wonderful people.

[@theinvisibleswordsman1196]

This is fascinating and beautiful on a number of levels.

[@refjohnson]

That was so interesting. I was caught off guard when the clip ended. I want to know more about this community of Matriarchs.

[@zenjm6496]

It's not matriarchy it is matrilineal! It exists everywhere. Look at how mothers bring up their children in military families!