Vever (for Barbara)

A cross-generational binding of three filmmakers seeking alternative possibilities to the power structures they are inherently part of. Each woman extends her gaze like an offered hand to a subject she is outside of. Vever (for Barbara) grew out of the abandoned film projects of Maya Deren and Barbara Hammer. Shot at the furthest point of a motorcycle trip Hammer took to Guatemala in 1975, and laced through with Deren’s reflections on failure, encounter, and initiation in 1950s Haiti.
A vever is a symbolic drawing used in Haitian Voodoo to invoke a Loa, or god.
by Deborah Stratman USA 2019 12’ Colour & Black/White Documentary form

Crew

Director Deborah Stratman
Cinematography Barbara Hammer
Editing Deborah Stratman
Music Katherina Bornefeld, George Hadow, Teiji Ito
Sound Design Deborah Stratman
Texts Maya Deren
With the voice of Barbara Hammer
Painter Teiji Ito
Producer Deborah Stratman

Deborah Stratman

Deborah Stratman, born in 1967 in Washington D.C., USA, is a Chicago-based artist and filmmaker. She has exhibited internationally at major biennials, art institutions, and film festivals. Stratman is the recipient of several awards, fellowships, and grants. She teaches at the University of Illinois at Chicago.

Filmography

1990 My Alchemy; 7 min. · My Alchemy; 7 min. 1991 Upon a Time; 10 min. · Upon a Time; 10 min. 1992 A Letter; 7 min. · A Letter; 7 min. · Possibilities, Dilemmas; 10 min. · Possibilities, Dilemmas; 10 min. · the train from la to la; 8 min. · the train from la to la; 8 min. 1993 In Flight: Day No. 2,128; 2 min. · In Flight: Day No. 2,128; 2 min. · Palimpsest; 3 min. · Palimpsest; 3 min. 1994 Waking; 7 min. · Waking; 7 min. 1995 Iolanthe; 5 min. · Iolanthe; 5 min. · On the Various Nature of Things; 25 min. · On the Various Nature of Things; 25 min. 1997 From Hetty to Nancy; 44 min. · From Hetty to Nancy; 44 min. 1999 the BLVD; 64 min. · the BLVD; 64 min. 2001 Untied; 3 min. · Untied; 3 min. 2002 In Order Not to Be Here; 33 min. · In Order Not to Be Here; 33 min. 2003 Energy Country; 15 min. · Energy Country; 15 min. 2004 Kings of the Sky; 68 min. · Kings of the Sky; 68 min. 2005 How Among the Frozen Words; 1 min. · How Among the Frozen Words; 1 min. 2006 It Will Die Out in the Mind; 4 min. · It Will Die Out in the Mind; 4 min. 2007 The Magician’s House; 6 min. · The Magician’s House; 6 min. 2008 Butter and Tomatoes; 4 min. · Butter and Tomatoes; 4 min. · The Memory; 2 min. · The Memory; 2 min. 2009 O’er the Land; 52 min. · O’er the Land; 52 min. 2010 Kuyenda N’Kubvina; 40 min. · Kuyenda N’Kubvina; 40 min. · FF; 3 min. · FF; 3 min. · Shrimp Chicken Fish; 5 min. · Shrimp Chicken Fish; 5 min. · Ray’s Birds; 7 min. · Ray’s Birds; 7 min. 2011 …These Blazeing Starrs!; 14 min. · …These Blazeing Starrs!; 14 min. · A Throb; 1 min. · A Throb; 1 min. 2012 Village, silenced; 7 min. · Village, silenced; 7 min. · The Name is not the Thing named; 11 min. · The Name is not the Thing named; 11 min. 2013 Musical Insects; 7 min. · Musical Insects; 7 min. · Immortal, Suspended; 6 min. · Immortal, Suspended; 6 min. 2014 Hacked Circuit; 15 min. · Hacked Circuit; 15 min. · Second Sighted; 5 min. · Second Sighted; 5 min. 2016 The Illinois Parables; 60 min., Forum Expanded 2016 · The Illinois Parables; 60 min., Forum Expanded 2016 · Xenoi; 15 min. · Xenoi; 15 min. 2017 Siege; 7 min. · Siege; 7 min. 2018 Optimism; 15 min., Forum Expanded 2018 · Optimism; 15 min., Forum Expanded 2018 2019 Vever (for Barbara) · Vever (for Barbara); 12 min., Forum Expanded 2019 2021 For the Time Being; 7 min. · Laika; 5 min. 2023 Last Things

Bio- & filmography as of Berlinale 2023