A Bride For Barter Documentary?

A Bride for Barter? is a documentary that explores the culture and customs of the Huli people of Papua New Guinea, including traditional transactions involved in marriage. The Huli tribe struggles with radical changes while clinging to their past, such as the practice of bride price, which remains an active custom today. The Huli do not live in villages but in scattered homesteads, where they exchange goods or services for other goods or services without using a medium of exchange, such as money.

The documentary also discusses the Kalaidzhi bride market in Bulgaria, where unmarried women are often paired off with financially strong men. However, more young Roma are rebelling, leading to the disappearance of Gold Coast mother Marion Barter. The disappearance of Barter has captivated the world, as her daughter Sally Leydon seeks answers.

Matt Barter, a Brunswick artist, grew up in Sullivan, Maine, where his father dug worms, fished for lobster, and created art on the side. Philip Barter built his family’s home from wooden beams he found on the beaches and became a leading Modernist painter.

The documentary also explores the metahistorical contexts of the epic Barter in Panay by Ricaredo Demetillo, who gathered his materials from Maragtas. The Huli tribe continues to grapple with the ever-present 21st century while still holding onto their heritage, such as the practice of bride price.