Her Magnum Opus, a feature film by Marta Renzi
A freewheeling narrative enacted almost
entirely through movement and music,
Her Magnum Opus is Marta Renzi's ode to creativity and community. A diverse cast weaves in and out of the action like revelers in
A Midsummer Night's Dream. Presiding over the festivities is Aileen Passloff, a grey-haired force of nature playing a version of herself. Among her attendants are a devoted younger friend (dancer Arthur Avilés), a pregnant dancer, a young couple in need of counseling, even a fairy tale prince who pops out of a pile of autumn leaves. A tantalizing mix of magic realism and improvised naturalism, the film unfolds in a bucolic setting-- a beach, a forest, a country house which holds emotional ties for the group as a source of inspiration and solace. A remarkable feature debut for award-winning choreographer Renzi, for whom dancers have always been people first.
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Joanna Ney, Curator of
Dance on Camera, presented by
the Film Society of Lincoln Center