Deborah stratmans the illinois parables examines centuries of american conflict. Copresented by excinema an experimental documentary comprised of regional vignettes about faith, force, technology and exodus. Deborah stratman born 1967 is a chicagobased artist and filmmaker who explores landscapes and systems. Her recent hourlong film the illinois parables 2016 tells eleven stories set in the titular state and, by extension, the united states, between the years 600 c. Eleven parables relay histories of settlement, removal, technological breakthrough, violence, messianism and resistance, all occurring somewhere in the state of illinois. The illinois parables, deborah stratmans hourlong essay film, arrives at just the right moment. A meditation on history and landscape, it has the power both to soothe complicated feelings.
In this breathtaking new documentary, noted filmmaker deborah stratman. Mills folly microcinema will screen the illinois parables 2016, digital video, 60 minutes, an experimental documentary by chicagobased filmmaker deborah stratman, on thursday, october 25 at 7. Made with the support of a 20067 wexner center artist residency award, deborah stratmans newest film uses the history and landscape of the state of illinois to explore such varied topics as faith, violence, technology, exodus, freedom, and resistance. What links these disparate parts is both the illinois that has a long and turbulent history, in addition to stratmans laser focus on the unexpected that crops up all around us, every day, and how a sense of place strongly shapes our lives. Scott, new york times deborah stratmans latest documentary essay is a vibrant and often disturbing exploration of unmarked landscapes as visible traces left by a troubling history. The film suggests links between technological and religious abstraction, placing them in conversation with. On friday, university of chicagos film studies center presents a screening of deborah stratmans the illinois parables, a 60minute film essay on the land of lincoln, from the seventh century through the 1980s.
Deborah stratman appears in person to present the illinois parables 2016, a suite of midwestern parables relaying histories of settlement, removal, technological breakthrough, violence, messianism and resistance, based on histories of the state of illinois. Sundance selects the illinois parables the truefalse film festival, which focuses on the best in nonfiction. The illinois parables usa 2016 60 minutes not rated filmmaker deborah stratman recounts eleven episodes in american history from the violent eviction of the cherokee to the invention of the nuclear reactor to the murder of black panther leader fred hampton to consider how societies are shaped by belief and ideology. The 2016 sundance film festival taking place january 21 to 31, 2016, celebrates the 10th anniversary of its new frontier program with an exhibition of new work, including immersive cinematic works, virtual reality installations, an extensive lineup of documentary and narrative mobile vr experiences and an inside look at the innovations being developed at some of worlds leading media. Vimeo gives control freaks the power to tweak every aspect of their embedded videos. At once an experimental documentary, a work of historical excavation and an insistently moral ideological critique. The 2016 retrospective contained two programs, both inspired by bertrand tavernier. Voice with deborah stratman the illinois parables kbia. A suite of midwestern parables that question the historical role belief has played in ideology and national identity. Even more diverse than the films historical material is its eccentric. Through eleven vignettes, stratman explores the history of the state.
By nick pinkerton in the novemberdecember 2016 issue. The film suggests links between technological and religious abstraction. Her body of work spans multiple media, including public. Thursday, april 20, 7 pm it has the power both to soothe complicated feelings about america and to inflame them. The best film i saw at this years berlinale was deborah stratmans the illinois parables. By the numbers, deborah stratmans new experimental documentary the illinois parables runs about 60 minutes, comprising a dozen vignettes from the history of the territory which comprises the presentday land of lincoln, who doesnt figure at all in the film s idiosyncratic though chronologically organized timeline, stretching from. Matt turner, little white lies online journal, 2017. Deborah stratman is centered on the artists celebrated film the illinois parables, which chronicles the history of the region through 11 chapters addressing everything from the resettlement of the cherokee people, to the invention of the nuclear reactor at the university of. The illinois parables trailers and clips metacritic. Felton jennings ii, joshua frieman, anna toborg, jose oubrerie. Deborah stratman discusses developing the voice of a region in her film the illinois parables truefalse 2016. The film utilizes reenactment, archival footage, observational shooting, intertitles and voiceover to tell its stories and is an extension of previous works in which the.
A brief journey through french cinema screened taverniers my journey through french cinema along with several titles cited in the film. Deborah stratmans experimental documentary explores how physical landscapes and human politics can each reinterpret historical events. Stratmans the illinois parables takes place at the cahokia mounds. The illinois parables directed by deborah stratman free. The illinois parables 2016 regional vignettes about faith, technology and exodus. Linked together by a brilliant and haunting soundtrack, 11 parables relay histories of settlement, removal, technological breakthrough, violence, messianism and resistance, all on territory that is now the state of illinois. Eleven parables relay histories of settlement, removal, t. A dense weave of found and original sights and sounds, this hourlong film is at once an experimental documentary, a work of historical excavation and an insistently moral ideological critique. Eleven parables recount events from the history of the state of illinois. Eleven parables relay histories of settlement, removal, technological. The illinois parables not available on your favorite video service. The american film and video artist deborah stratman has made a number of works that use sounds and images in elliptical ways to lead audience members to question their awareness of their own surroundings. You can also find a list of older movies grouped by letter grade. From dreamy aerial opening shots, we are sent on an expedition through the storied land of our fifth most populous state, illinois, often called a miniature version of america.
The illinois parables, deborah stratmans hourlong essay film, arrives at just the. The lovings have been the subject of both books and movies, including the loving story, the 2011 documentary directed by nancy buirski that is partly the basis for mr. Deborah stratman discusses her film the illinois parables. But the state is a structural ruse, and its histories are allegories that ask what belief might teach us about nationhood. Utilizing reenactment, archival footage, observational shooting, intertitles and. The illinois parables soothes and inflames feelings about. The film utilizes reenactment, archival footage, observational shooting. The state is a convenient structural ruse, allowing its histories to become allegories that explore how were shaped by conviction and ideology. A film like the illinois parables, whose only agenda is inquiry and discovery, feels necessary right.
Given the ongoing covid19 pandemic, the museum has decided not to present the film festival in this calendar year. The film won the stan brakhage award at the ann arbor film. The state is a convenient structural ruse, allowing its histories to become allegories that explore how were shaped by. The voynich code the worlds most mysterious manuscript the secrets of nature duration. An experimental documentary comprised of regional vignettes about faith, force, technology and exodus. The illinois parables is a fascinating portrait of state. Release dates 10 also known as aka 3 release dates usa 21 january 2016 sundance film festival germany 12 february 2016 berlin international film festival usa 4 march 2016 truefalse film festival usa 18 march 2016 ann arbor film festival usa 18 june 2016.