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Meshes of the Afternoon

  • 19431943
  • Not RatedNot Rated
  • 14m
IMDb RATING
7.9/10
13K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Meshes of the Afternoon (1943)
ShortFantasyMystery

A woman returning home falls asleep and has vivid dreams that may or may not be happening in reality. Through repetitive images and complete mismatching of the objective view of time and spa... Read allA woman returning home falls asleep and has vivid dreams that may or may not be happening in reality. Through repetitive images and complete mismatching of the objective view of time and space, her dark inner desires play out on-screen.A woman returning home falls asleep and has vivid dreams that may or may not be happening in reality. Through repetitive images and complete mismatching of the objective view of time and space, her dark inner desires play out on-screen.

IMDb RATING
7.9/10
13K
YOUR RATING
  • Directors
    • Maya Deren
    • Alexander Hammid
  • Writer
    • Maya Deren(uncredited)
  • Stars
    • Maya Deren
    • Alexander Hammid
Top credits
  • Directors
    • Maya Deren
    • Alexander Hammid
  • Writer
    • Maya Deren(uncredited)
  • Stars
    • Maya Deren
    • Alexander Hammid
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 53User reviews
    • 40Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win

    Photos18

    Alexander Hammid in Meshes of the Afternoon (1943)
    Maya Deren in Meshes of the Afternoon (1943)
    Maya Deren in Meshes of the Afternoon (1943)
    Maya Deren in Meshes of the Afternoon (1943)
    Maya Deren in Meshes of the Afternoon (1943)
    Maya Deren in Meshes of the Afternoon (1943)
    Maya Deren in Meshes of the Afternoon (1943)
    Meshes of the Afternoon (1943)
    Meshes of the Afternoon (1943)
    Maya Deren in Meshes of the Afternoon (1943)
    Maya Deren in Meshes of the Afternoon (1943)
    Alexander Hammid in Meshes of the Afternoon (1943)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Maya Deren
    Maya Deren
    • The Womanas The Woman
    Alexander Hammid
    • The Manas The Man
    • Directors
      • Maya Deren
      • Alexander Hammid
    • Writer
      • Maya Deren(uncredited)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit
    On her way back home, a solitary woman picks up a frail flower, and then, she drops her key. Exhausted, she finally enters her home and falls asleep in a deep and comfortable armchair. However, even in her intimate dreams, an intangible and elusive dark presence blemishes her afternoon nap--she tries to catch it; but, in vain. Now, as, more and more, the already confined environment becomes a maze-like purgatory, bizarre but perfect doppelgängers of her physical self start materialising in the house, catching a glimpse of a record player playing a never-ending tune, a telephone, and a sharp, serrated bread knife. The blade thirsts for blood; the woman hungers for a way out. Can the undivided mind/matter entity escape consciousness? —Nick Riganas
    experimental filmnational film registryflowerknifestairs19 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Genres
      • Short
      • Fantasy
      • Mystery
    • Certificate
      • Not Rated
    • Parents guide
      • Add content advisory

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      This film was selected to the National Film Registry, Libary of Congress, in 1990.
    • Goofs
      When The Woman tries to open the supposedly locked door for the first time, it gives way a little (too much).
    • Alternate versions
      The original print of Meshes was completely silent (i.e., without music). Teiji Ito's score was added to a sound reprint in the 1950s. Several shots were also cut from the version with the added score.
    • Connections
      Edited into Cinema16: American Short Films (2006)

    User reviews53

    Review
    Top review
    10/10
    Way ahead of its time!
    Maya Deren's "Meshes of the Afternoon" is an amazing 15 minute journey into the subconscious. It's like "Un Chien Andalou" seen through the eyes of a woman. In the film it's hard to tell when Maya's character is awake or dreaming. This film is chock full of bizarre and creepy surrealist images. The protagonist drops her key and it bounces like a ball. A knife moves from a loaf of bread, then the key turns into a knife. She carries a flower with her, which she holds upside down. She sees death, who where's a black hood and has a mirror for a face. She see's herself dreaming. In her dream she seems to foresee her own death. Deren seems to have a subconscious fear of knives, or being killed by a knife. This is one crazy little short film that almost puts you in a hypnotic trance with it's creepy Avant-Gard sounds and images. It's very poetic and disturbing, as nothing is what it seems. This is a must see for fans of David Lynch and Bunuel.
    helpful•29
    5
    • NateManD
    • Aug 14, 2006

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • 1943 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official sites
      • DVD
      • Edited DVD
    • Language
      • None
    • Also known as
      • Redes de la tarde
    • Filming locations
      • Maya Deren's house, 1466 North Kings Road, West Hollywood, California, USA
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $275 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      14 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
      • Silent
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

    Related news

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