Order of Myths

Mardi Gras has been celebrated in Mobile, Alabama since 1703; it is the event that highlights the carnival celebrations at the end of winter. Apart from traditional beads, parades and masks, coronation of the Mardi Gras king and queen takes place, which is proceeded by lengthy preparations. However in southern Alabama, such a celebratory event is racially segregated – a luminously rich king and queen are separately elected for the white part of the city, and separately are crowned a bit more frugal king and queen of Afroamerican citizens. Director Margaret Brown explores the preparations of both balls and disengages herself from any comments. Even though it is obvious that in everyday life both communities do not mingle – Afroamericans have their own quarters, schools, celebrations. While Order of Myths is not simply a black and white accusation of segregated society, it tries to view issues from different perspectives.