A well-made if fairly conventional documentary, Martina Kudl((ek's In the Mirror of Maya Deren offers a clear, informative account of the life, artistic accomplishment, and influence of underground filmmaker Maya Deren (1917-1961). Deren, who was born in Kiev and emigrated to the United States with her family when she was five, studied dance (an art reflected in many of her films, which are sometimes called choreographies) and wrote verse before discovering the camera, which immediately became her preferred mode of poetic expression. The film's focus is nicely balanced between her personal and professional life, making excellent use of snippets from her work--most of them featuring dance and dancelike movement--and her recorded lectures, as well as recollections from admiring friends and colleagues, including avant-garde filmmakers Jonas Mekas and Stan Brakhage. Most interesting is the portrayal of Deren's fascination with Haiti, where she did substantial filming, and voodoo, in which she enthusiastically participated. DVD extras include two unfinished Deren films, Brakhage's hand-painted tribute short called Water for Maya, and a filmography. Recommended. Aud: C, P. (F. Swietek)
In the Mirror of Maya Deren
(2003) 103 min. DVD: $29.99. Zeitgeist Video (avail. from most distributors). Color cover. Volume 19, Issue 6
In the Mirror of Maya Deren
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