Birth of a Nation (1997)

Mekas leads an archival avant-garde, a fast-paced parade of 160 underground film people he captured on film over four decades, described as, "160 portraits or rather appearances, sketches ... See full summary »

Director:

Jonas Mekas

Stars:

Chantal Akerman, Kenneth Anger, Michel Auder

Cast

Credited cast:
Chantal Akerman	...	Herself (archive footage)
Kenneth Anger	...	Himself (archive footage)
Michel Auder	...	Himself (archive footage)
Bruce Baillie	...	Himself (archive footage)
Robert Beavers	...	Himself (archive footage)
Jane Brakhage	...	Herself (archive footage)
Stan Brakhage	...	Himself (archive footage)
Robert Breer	...	Himself (archive footage)
James Broughton	...	Himself (archive footage)
L.M. Kit Carson	...	Himself (archive footage)
Charles Chaplin	...	Himself (archive footage)
Tom Chomont	...	Himself (archive footage)
Shirley Clarke	...	Herself (archive footage)
Bruce Conner	...	Himself (archive footage)
Tony Conrad	...	Himself (archive footage)

Storyline

Mekas leads an archival avant-garde, a fast-paced parade of 160 underground film people he captured on film over four decades, described as, "160 portraits or rather appearances, sketches and glimpses of avant-garde, independent filmmakers and film activists between 1955 and 1996. Why 'Birth of a Nation'? Because the film independents IS a nation in itself. We are surrounded by commercial cinema Nation same way as the indigenous people of the United States or of any other country are surrounded by the Ruling Powers. We are the invisible, but essential nation of cinema. We are the cinema."

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Genres:

Documentary

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Company Credits

Technical Specs

Runtime:

85 min

Color:

Color

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