two documentaries from zeitgeist films i'd love to have:

in the mirror of maya deren:

Deemed “Fellini and Bergman wrapped in one gloriously possessed body,” Maya Deren is arguably the most important and innovative avant-garde filmmaker in the history of American cinema. Using locations from the Hollywood hills to Haiti in the 1940s and ’50s, Deren made such mesmerizing films as AT LAND, RITUAL IN TRANSFIGURED TIME, and her masterpiece, MESHES OF THE AFTERNOON, which won a prestigious international experimental filmmaking prize at the 1947 Cannes Film Festival.

Starting with excerpts from these films, IN THE MIRROR seamlessly and effectively interweaves archival footage and observances from acolytes and contemporaries such as Stan Brakhage and Jonas Mekas with an original score by experimental jazz legend John Zorn. Documentarian Martina Kudlácek has fashioned not only a fascinating portrait of a groundbreaking and influential artist, but a pitch-perfect introduction to her strikingly beautiful and poetic body of work.

brakhage:

From 1952 until his death in 2003, Stan Brakhage created almost 400 films. Working completely outside of the mainstream, he consistently redefined cinematic art with such celebrated pieces as WINDOW WATER BABY MOVING (his first wife giving birth) and MOTHLIGHT (leaves and butterflies taped to celluloid), as well as a host of films hand-painted in shockingly brilliant color including DANTE’S QUARTET and BLACK ICE.

Juxtaposing archival footage spanning 35 years, as well as rare film excerpts and vintage and contemporary interviews with Brakhage, his friends, family, colleagues and critics, BRAKHAGE is the perfect complement to the Criterion Collection’s BY BRAKHAGE DVD. Executive produced by Ron Mann (GRASS, TWIST), Jim Shedden’s stunning, bittersweet portrait explores the depth and breadth of Brakhage’s genius and the exquisite splendor of his films.

speaking of brakhage, i recently finished watching the two dvd set by brakhage. i found i liked his films where he painted and scratched or collaged on film the best. the films with people in them for the most part didn't interest me that much. but having said that, there was one film of actual autopsies that may be the most disturbing thing i've ever seen. it terrified peter and our roomates who would cover their eyes while passing by the tv and i'm in no hurry to watch that particular film again.