SHORT FILMS BY ELFI MIKESCH Inspired by the life of Mary Stuart,
EXEKUTION
is an
SNATCH
SPHINXES WITHOUT SECRETS.
"ls what we're doing here acting out?", cisks one
This hour long documentary seeks to answer the
SNATCH,
expressionistic film about pa,s sion, love, innocence
character in
and while the answer may
questions, What is performance art? Why do women
and death. Instead of portraying her as a pawn in
unfortunately be yes, there is pleasure, if not plot, to
do it? And what are the strengths of this medium for
anonymous history, Elfi Mikesch depicts her as a
be found in this 40 minute video.
putting across a political message? Many of the cur
woman who was abused by her own fa mily. The
Lots of saturated color, and yes, saturated tam
SNATCH a
first. Set in a lesbian whore
rently active women performance artists speak to these questions in
SPHINXES WITHOUT SECRETS,
so
i mages a re wondrously om inous com positions of
pons, make
hatred, intrigue 'and madness, drawing attention to
house from Hell (Hell is America) a gaggle of giggling
the video should be of special inle rest to fans of
BLUE DIS
garterbelt gargoyles let us in on their scenes and
Rachael Rosenthal, Arlene Raven, Diamanda Galas
in a train compartment. An androgynous
secrets. We watch them boss around their nerdy
and Robby McCauley whose works are featured.
woman thinks of letters a lady wrote to a gentleman
clients, women who play men with an endearing sexu
about the' necessity of 'separation and the desire for a
al awkwardness and are more victims than victimizers.
the subjectivity that generates such drama.
TANCE is set
SNATCH features a dozen lesbians in
Many others give their opinions, including Annie Sprinkle, who does something new with her breasts.
lingerie and
. While the opinionating is less engaging than the per
mirror image of the first, disrupts her reverie. After
the cast, in costume, turns Victoria's secret into a
formances (and be warned, these theatrical pieces are
she leaves it is unknown whether the first woman's
screaming headline. Although they bare their bosoms
not shown ·to their best advantage on video) what is
wish was about the man with whom an encounter will
with peek-a-boo provocation, these women are not
striking is the overview, shown in 30 or 40 short
never take place or about the woman with whom it
above being polemical. "Prostitution is the m.o. of the
sequences, of the range and energy of activity. Fan
has just happened.
patriarchal capitalistic society. We sell our souls, time
tastical costumes, glimpsed briefly, compelling body
and energy, our lives-to make a fucking livi ng,"
work, and the images of many women engaged in
casual encounter in the future. Another woman, a
THE HYENA'S BREAKFAST star1s
with se nsua l .
SNATCH
images of a woman running through the streets. A
explains a title sequence, b\Jt
man speaks to her over the phone, insisting that she
as being more rowdily ridiculous than revolutionary.
return to him. But Maria's attention is drawn ·to her
The best parts of this video are the visual jokes, a
own visions of suffering and death which are Catholic
sacraficial peace symbol and a living vagina dentate.
imagery. After experiencing the purification of self
Some actual dialogue plus a plot could have
SNATCH into a SNATCH has
chastisement, she can laugh about herself, forget the
boosted
man and open the door to a woman.
it stands,
-AF
comes across
more satisfying video, but as a long way to go for those
waiting for a challenging sexual/political/na rrative
EXEKunON: A STUDY OF MARY
Director: Elfi
vehicle. I wouldn't put it past these women, however,
Mikesch, Cast: Lamilli, Magdalena Montezuma, Frank
to build on their experience and give us, next time,
Ripploh. West Germany, 1 979, 35mm, 28 min.
what we really want.
-Mary Wings
Director: No d i rector (collective process), USA,
BLUE DISTANCE
Director: Elfi Mikesch, Cast: Silke
Grossman. West Germany, 1 983, 35mm, 22 min.
THE HYENA'S BREAKFAST
Director: Elfi Mikesch,
Cast: Sheila McLaughlin, Heinz Emigholz. West Ger many, 1 983, 1 6mm, 25 min.
SPONSORED BY TH'E GOETHE- INSTITUT SAN FRANCISCO Sunday June 23
1 2: 15pm Castro
Monday June 24 2:00pm Castro
1 990, video, 40 min.
Friday June 28
1 1 :3Opm Roxie
such different ways onstage, most effectivly describes the importance of performance art. Recommended for theatre buffs, East Villagers, artist-activists and costumers.
-Mary Wings
Director: Maria Beatty, USA, 1 99 1 , video, 58 min.
FREE SCREENINGS AT EYE GAWRY 1 1 51 Mission Street
Tuesday June 25 - Saturday June 29 2:00pm and 5:00pm