Invocation Maya Deren

Maya Deren is one of the most important figures in the history of American experimental cinema. Her '40s films established her as a flamboyant, original film poet whose work not only inspired other avant-garde movie-makers but gave rise to America's Creative Film Foundation and the progressive distribution company Cinema 16. This informative documentary may use a familiar format - clips (including unfinished work), talking heads (Jonas Mekas, Stan Brakhage, et al), footage of Deren herself - but its tone, at once celebratory and objectively distanced, is beguiling. The film paints a portrait of a fascinating woman: extrovert, strong-willed, eccentric, deeply competitive, and immensely energetic. Recommended to anyone interested in dance, alternative cinema, forceful women, and ecstatic imagery.