Manon de Boer, Attica, 2008
In Attica, Manon de Boer conveys the story of the infamous 1971 hostage drama at the Attica prison through two pieces by composer Frederic Rzewski. Rzewski’s lyrics are based on statements by two of the inmates who took part in the riot. According to one of the inmates, the event at Attica is not finished, it will always be in front of him. The hostage drama attracted a lot of attention and de Boer is interested in the political power expressed in Rzewski’s taut music. De Boer assigned a quartet to perform the music in front of the camera. She started by filming the musicians, followed by a 360-degree pan around the room. The camera is filming through a mirror, which creates a spatial dislocation. Time and space are dissolved.
In Manon de Boer’s films we encounter musicians, dancers, intellectuals and artists who perform various works. With a sensitive ear, de Boer transfers these works to the cinematic medium, creating films with a strong focus on rhythm, pace, repetition and interruption.
Born in 1966, Manon de Boer works in Brussels, Belgium.
Attica
10-21 March