In the Mirror of Maya Deren. Martina Kudláček, 2001.
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Edition screened: Zeitgeist DVD, released 2004. English language. Original music by John Zorn. Runtime approximately 103 minutes.
Summary: No depictions of actual violence or harm to animals. Footage of Haitian voodoo ceremonies show chickens held by their feet and maneuvered ceremoniously, but no harm comes to them.
Kudláček’s exposé provides a good introduction to Deren and her films by combining excerpts with insightful interviews from historians and other artists who knew her, most notably Stan Brakhage.
The Zeitgeist DVD includes Brakhage’s tribute film to Deren, Water for Maya (2000, 5 minutes), and available elements from two previously unseen films by Deren, Witch’s Cradle (1943, 12 minutes) and Ensemble for Somnambulists (1951, 7 minutes). All are free of violence to animals.