Garage Screen and the Beat Film Festival present the Russian premiere of Heart of a Dog, a new film from composer, musician, and performance artist Laurie Anderson, one of the key figures in American experimental music of the second half of the 20th century.
Laurie Anderson’s works resist any attempt at classification and defy genre conventions. Her work Homeland, staged in Moscow in 2008, was a combination of а music concert, poetry night, political manifesto, and audio-visual installation. Her film Heart of a Dog is an essay combining elements of an intimate diary, a philosophical meditation, nostalgic animation, a home video, and music, which is central to Anderson’s artistic practice.
With quotes from Wittgenstein, Kierkegaard, and The Tibetan Book of the Dead, the film mixes music with the artist’s personal memories and reflections on society and politics after 9/11. There are also moments of absolute silence and cacophony—a dog’s barking. Anderson’s memories of her late pet terrier Lolabelle act as a starting point for a conversation on love, life, and death, all interconnected in a Buddhist circle of regeneration.
The film also discusses Anderson’s thoughts on her late husband Lou Reed, who died in 2013. The film masterfully captures his spirit and the artistic freedom he was associated with.
Heart of a Dog was nominated for the Golden Lion at the 72nd Venice Film Festival and Best Documentary at the 31st Independent Spirit Awards. It was also shortlisted for an Academy Award. Artist and curator Oleg Kulik and Alexey Artamonov, a film critic and Seance editor, will introduce the film’s Russian premiere. The screening will be followed by a discussion with their participation.
Heart of a Dog
Director: Laurie Anderson
2015, USA, France. 75 min
© Beat Film Festival