The films of Nina Menkes have a certain visual element that stems from when she was a young artist, exploring the worlds of dance and photography. Movement and sound have continued to be a central thematic element in her cinematic productions, all of which she writes, directs, shoots, and edits herself. Her latest work, Dissolution, was shot in Yafo, the predominantly Arab area of Tel Aviv, and explores the violence that is so predominant in Israeli society today.
Elvis Mitchell explores the intricacies of Menkes' work -- from violence and death to sound and the connectedness to spirit – which is documented in a captivating retrospective at UCLA's Billy Wilder Theater, through March 7, before traveling to the Anthology Film Archive in New York.