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MARINA ABRAMOVIĆ
THE ARTIST IS PRESENT
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- 3:15
- 5:40
- 7:50
- 10:00
$7 Member $12.50 Regular
DIRECTED BY MATTHEW AKERS
Marina Abramović: seductive, controversial, fearless, outré. Her retrospective at the Museum of Modern Art (March - May 2010) featured an extraordinary performance, experienced by 750,000 people, many of whom waited hours for the chance to sit silently across from her at a small table, where she remained for 7½ hours daily, without eating, drinking, or moving. The intensity of her gaze, the intimacy of the act (paradoxically in a huge, brightly lit room, filled with onlookers) moved some to tears and other acts of extreme emotion. Matthew Akers’s film records the artist as she prepares herself physically and spiritually for the ordeal -- as might be expected -- with tremendous discipline, humor and guile. With comments by MoMA curator Klaus Biesenbach, art critic Arthur Danto, gallerist Sean Kelly, and hundreds of members of the public (including James Franco) who were fortunate enough to attend this landmark event.
USA • 2012 • 105 MINS. • HBO DOCUMENTARY FILMS & MUSIC BOX FILMS
REVIEWS
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“Marina Abramovic’s silent, practically motionless 736-hour performances… was, among other things, the most sublime staring contest imaginable… Given the severity, solemnity, and occasionally life-threatening nature of (her) work… this delightful and informative doc comes as a different kind of shock… Director Matthew Akers was granted such aura-deflated access it feels as if he’s pulled back the curtain on the great-and-powerful Oz… The artist is still revealed at the top of her game, a true survivor who’s finally receiving the recognition she knows she deserves.”
– Chris Chang, Film Comment
“The sheer drama of Abramovic’s extraordinary exhibition and performance is captured and expanded upon in director Matthew Akers’ also extraordinary documentary. (He) introduces us to the charming and dynamic Abramovic, her violent and controversial past work, and to her ex-partner and lover. With the powerful, compelling MARINA ABRAMOVIĆ: THE ARTIST IS PRESENT, Akers has succeeded magnificently.”
– Scott Macaulay, Filmmaker magazine
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MARINA ABRAMOVIC THE ARTIST IS PRESENT: Q & A with filmmaker Matthew Akers (Recorded June 13, 2012)
MARINA ABRAMOVIC THE ARTIST IS PRESENT: Q & A with MoMA curator Klaus Biesenbach (Recorded June 28, 2012)