Children from Two Worlds. Between Christianity,
Nature Worship and Belief in Gods
The film deals with two girls from two
different cultures: they live in two countries on the exact opposite
geographical sides of the world. Stefanie lives in
Bavaria (Germany), Kalehua in Kaua’i (Hawai’i, U.S.A.)
When Stefanie goes to bed, Kalehua is just getting up –
and the other way around.
The Hawaiian culture has a long tradition of nature
worship, in which the individual powers of nature are
worshipped as gods. European culture sets itself apart,
on the one hand, through an enlightened point of view,
in which nature is something understood by the mind; on
the other hand, through Christianity with its basic
humanitarian values and its belief in one God as the
creator of heaven and earth.
Over 200 years ago, Hawai’i was discovered by Captain
Cook. In the period that followed, western culture
almost exclusively established a foothold here and with
it also enlightenment and Christianity. This is why many
Hawaiians no longer worship natural forces as gods
today, however a respectful attitude toward nature has
left an indelible mark on their way of thinking.
Both girls were raised in the Christian religion, but
they have different cultural roots: Kalehua comes to a
certain degree from two worlds, from a tradition of
nature worship and a “western” tradition of
enlightenment and Christianity. Stefanie is a child of
European culture.
The film aims to show how these two children use their
different cultural backgrounds to develop their lives.
How do they live? What do they love? How do they
experience the world (family, environment, society)?
What are their wishes and hopes, and perhaps also their
fears and worries? And what do they believe in? What
position has God in their lives?
