|
Idea, direction and choreography - Ugnė Dievaitė
Performing - Natalia García Graus, Ugnė Dievaitė Cinematography and post-production - Mikas Zabulionis Original soundtrack - Vidal Costumes - Ugnė Dievaitė, Natalia García Graus Project coordination - VšĮ "Degu" Supported by Lithuanian council for Culture |
|
Nature is cyclic and we are part of it. Ever since ancient times, it's been estimated that a woman's menstrual cycle equals one lunar cycle and that pregnancy lasts 10 lunar cycles. However, due to the evolution of our civilization, the peculiarities of our lifestyles and the excess of artificial lighting, the inherent rhythm of our bodies has grown apart from nature´s flow. In modern society, a woman's body maneuvers at the edge of the abyss in search of an equilibrium between its own nature and modern culture and lifestyle.
This is a film that, through words of movement, speaks of past undergoings and the experience of inhabiting a woman's body. Our body moves to a biological rhythm: throughout each month we feel and think differently. Our mood and way of thinking change. In each cycle, we die and are reborn symbolically. It is a constant change of state that repeats itself cyclically. We shed our skin only to find ourselves in a new one. To bear a new developing life inside is but another cycle; it is long and transforms our body and our life completely. Our body also dances to the rhythm of culture: we are impregnated with expectations, norms and stereotypes related to gender roles. Culturally, a woman's body has much less freedom of movement in a vast array of social contexts. Its deficiency shines in our bodies, codes of behavior and attire.
The film bears witness to the existence of such biological and cultural influences, and foregrounds accepting and listening to our own needs and internal desires as counterweight. It is a journey during which we seek the rhythm of being and moving through life that is close to ourselves.
Ugne and Natalia, two women, two bodies who experience their cyclic nature within the context of western culture and lifestyle, move at their own pace, at different stages of life. In this dance of nature and culture, each body searches for its own personal rhythm, as if it was a refuge that allowed us to peacefully dance the dance of our life.
This is a film that, through words of movement, speaks of past undergoings and the experience of inhabiting a woman's body. Our body moves to a biological rhythm: throughout each month we feel and think differently. Our mood and way of thinking change. In each cycle, we die and are reborn symbolically. It is a constant change of state that repeats itself cyclically. We shed our skin only to find ourselves in a new one. To bear a new developing life inside is but another cycle; it is long and transforms our body and our life completely. Our body also dances to the rhythm of culture: we are impregnated with expectations, norms and stereotypes related to gender roles. Culturally, a woman's body has much less freedom of movement in a vast array of social contexts. Its deficiency shines in our bodies, codes of behavior and attire.
The film bears witness to the existence of such biological and cultural influences, and foregrounds accepting and listening to our own needs and internal desires as counterweight. It is a journey during which we seek the rhythm of being and moving through life that is close to ourselves.
Ugne and Natalia, two women, two bodies who experience their cyclic nature within the context of western culture and lifestyle, move at their own pace, at different stages of life. In this dance of nature and culture, each body searches for its own personal rhythm, as if it was a refuge that allowed us to peacefully dance the dance of our life.
