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A pioneer in American experimental film, Maya Deren "nearly single-handedly put experimental cinema on the American cultural map, and also became its iconic visual presence" in the 1940's (The New Yorker).
This project is intended to honor her legacy, and keep her artistic vision and achievements alive and well in film's consciousness.
"I am not greedy. I do not seek to possess the major portion of your days. I am content if, on those rare occasions whose truth can be stated only by poetry, you will, perhaps, recall an image, even only the aura of my films."
The films of Maya Deren have struck a chord in ten thousand lakes. Steven and Peter gravitate towards atmospheric, emotional, ethereal, discordant and harmonious sounds—whatever it takes to touch something special. Thus it is no surprise to be drawn to Deren’s silent films…mystical, distorted, disturbing, atmospheric, mesmerizing. They touch something beyond the consciousness, something of which dreams are made.
It is a labor of deep admiration and respect to create original music to these special visions.
In the spirit of the classic movie theater experience, the program opens with a brief animation, with live music accompaniment. German expressionist filmmaker Walter Ruttmann’s “Lichtspiel” Opus II and III (1921-23) provide a geometric feast for the eyes, as objects dance, pulse, and spin across the screen, changing shape and color.
In honor of the hundredth anniversary of “Entr’ acte” (1924) by French filmmaker Rene Clair, this Dadaist piece is included in the program as an additional example of groundbreaking film. Considered by many to be the pinnacle of avant-garde filmmaking, Clair uses an endless variety of experimental camera angles and techniques that take the viewer on a thoroughly entertaining visual journey.
After these two "warm up" acts, it's time for the main attraction: three experimental gems by Deren, all made within a few years of one another while Deren was still in her 20’s. The program begins with “At Land” (1944), where we witness a symbolic “birth” of Deren as she is washed ashore (a fitting introduction), then watch her pull herself up and through the modern world, full of socialites, greed, and power. The second feature, “Ritual in Transfigured Time” (1946), is noted for its choreography of the mundane, the highlight being the dreamlike cocktail party that both connects and alienates the attendees.
"Meshes of the Afternoon" (1943) is often considered to be Deren's most influential work in American experimental film. According to MoMA, “Meshes” is a key example of the “trance film”—a work in which a protagonist is in a dreamlike state, and where the camera conveys his or her subjective focus. Expertly filmed during the day by Deren’s husband, Alexander Hammid, the film comes across as a “fever nap,” using disconnected repeated objects to unsettle the viewer. Deren stated she wanted “to put on film the feeling which a human being experiences about an incident, rather than to record the incident accurately ” (MoMA).
The Program
Preview:
Lichtspiel Opus II & III by Walter Ruttmann (1921-23 / 8 min)
German filmmaker Walter Ruttman's experimental Lichtspiel ("light show") animations were ground-breaking excursions into presenting movement through geometric forms.
Entr'acte by Rene Clair (1924 / 20 min)
Often referred to as a masterpiece, this Dadaist film by Rene Clair, features appearances by creative icons Erik Satie, Marcel Duchamp, and Man Ray. Humorous and innovative, Entr’ acte fearlessly incorporates slow motion, reversed segments, twisted angles, and overlapping imagery.
At Land (1944 / 15 min)
According to Deren, this work is a "mythological voyage of the twentieth century," a voyage in which one is challenged with trying to maintain one's identity in a society that imposes its own values and expectations.
Ritual in Transfigured Time (1946 / 15 min)
A lifelong lover of dance, Deren treats the mundane as such, exemplified by turning a cocktail party into a choreographed social event. Eventually the film transforms into a beautifully choreographed chase, culminating in Deren’s merging with the sea.
Meshes of the Afternoon (1943 / 15 min)
Deren's first, and often considered most effective and influential film. An unsettling blur between dreams and reality, "Meshes" moves from the mundane to the disturbing, including a hooded, mirror-faced spectre that silently glides through scenes in pursuit of Deren.
ten thousand lakes performing "Entr'acte" live at the Granada Theater, Minneapolis, July 2024.