Watch The Order of Myths

The Order of Myths is a 2008 documentary film that aims to explore racial segregation and the notion of identity in contemporary America. The documentary is directed by Margaret Brown, who is known for her exploration of regional culture and history. The film is set in Mobile, Alabama, where Mardi Gras is a significant celebration. However, the city is also known for its history of segregation, and the Mardi Gras tradition has been divided between white and black communities. The Order of Myths follows the celebrations of Mardi Gras as they happen in Mobile and the segregation that continues to plague the community.

The movie starts with an introduction to the two Mardi Gras societies in Mobile, the Order of Myths and the Knights of Revelry, which is divided based on the color of the participants' skin. The Order of Myths is a society of white people, whereas the Knights of Revelry is the society of the black community. The order of Myths is considered to be more prestigious and traditional. They have been celebrating Mardi Gras since 1872, whereas Knights of Revelry started celebrating Mardi Gras in the 1970s.

Throughout the film, we see the preparations for Mardi Gras in both societies. We see the different aspects of the celebrations, from choosing the theme of the floats and costumes to rehearsing for the dances and songs for each society. We get to see how each society plans and executes their Mardi Gras balls, which is the most significant event of the celebration.

The documentary explores the different aspects of Mardi Gras, which are influenced by race and class. We see how the African American Knights of Revelry's ball is much less formal than the white Order of Myths' ball. We also see how the black Mardi Gras celebrations incorporate African identities into their celebrations. Meanwhile, the white Order of Myths' celebration is more Westernized.

As the film progresses, we see the Order of Myths and Knights of Revelry come together in several events leading up to the Mardi Gras. We see both societies coming together to participate in a parade, and we also see how they cooperate to celebrate Joe Cain Day, when they honor a legendary 19th-century figure who had links to both societies.

However, the film also highlights the continued segregation between the communities when it is time for the Mardi Gras balls. We see the stark contrast between the formal elegance of the Order of Myths ball and the more relaxed atmosphere of the Knights of Revelry ball. The film draws attention to the singular fact that Mobile remains one of the only cities in the US, still celebrating Mardi Gras in such a divided manner.

The Order of Myths explores the issue of racial segregation and the way that different communities celebrate their cultural traditions. It observes the contrast between Mobile's rich historical traditions and the fact that they continue to be divided even today. The documentary shows how the communities continue to exist in isolation, indicating that many societal issues are yet to be resolved.

In conclusion, The Order of Myths is a convincing and well-crafted documentary that explores the complexities of race and class in a divide yet integrated society. Despite the beauty of the Mardi Gras celebrations, the film reminds the viewer of the arduous and challenging issues that continue to exist in the present day.

The Order of Myths is a 2007 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 19 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.9 and a MetaScore of 79.