description At Land Overview
At Land, a 1944 American short film by Maya Deren, explores unconventional cinematic techniques. Its notable use of shifting perspectives and dreamlike imagery creates a unique avant-garde experience. The work is significant within experimental film history and particularly relevant for viewers interested in surrealist art, feminist theory, and the development of motion picture language during the 1940s. It’s appreciated by scholars and those engaging with early American experimental cinema.
help At Land FAQ
What actually happens in Maya Deren's At Land?
At Land begins with Maya Deren's character washing up on a beach, then moving through spaces that do not connect normally, including a banquet table and outdoor landscapes. The recurring chess piece gives the 1944 short a pursuit structure without a conventional plot.
Is At Land silent because the soundtrack is missing?
No. At Land was made as a silent experimental short in 1944, and the silence is part of its design rather than a lost-audio problem.
How is At Land connected to Meshes of the Afternoon?
At Land followed Meshes of the Afternoon, Deren's famous 1943 short made with Alexander Hammid. Both films use dream logic and repeated gestures, but At Land shifts the focus outward into beaches, rooms, and social spaces.
Who appears in At Land besides Maya Deren?
The film stars Deren and includes appearances by figures such as Alexander Hammid, John Cage, and Parker Tyler. It was shot partly around Amagansett on Long Island.
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