A Moment in Love

Shirley Clarke / United States / 1957 / Czech Premiere / 9 min.

synopsis

Two young lovers dance in the countryside and they express love, doubt and fear with their movements. Passion is the drive that moves their bodies and the surrounding landscape changes to fit the mood in their romantic relationship. The impressionist nature and expressive choreography is enhanced by plaintive string music.

“Most of the dance films I’d seen were awful and I figured I could do better. Essentially, film’s a choreographic medium.” — Shirley Clarke

biography

Shirley Clarke (1919–1997) was an American director and university teacher, initially a dancer and a choreographer. In the 1950s she made short films and later she directed various documentaries and feature films. She was active in the feminist movement and her work is often included in the New American Cinema.