Named after the prehistoric supercontinent Pangaea dating back some 300 million years ago, Maya Sassoon and Kari Fry’s short film of the same name unsurprisingly owes much to the natural world. “At its core, this is a visual film, intended to consider human connection to the natural world,” its creators tell SLEEK. “We hope to emulate the ebb and flow of life and earth.”
Set against the sprawling sand dunes of Alamosa and Mosca, three hours south of Denver, Colorado, Sassoon and Fry’s film is a lyrical representation of this mesmerising place—there is a certain sense of endlessness and eternity as the vast sand dunes outstretch on screen. “The dunes reminded us of the beginning of time—hence the name Pangaea,” say Sassoon and Fry. Shot on a 16mm Bolex by cinematographer Gus Bendinelli, the team chose a soft, grainy film to juxtapose the gritty environment.
Couple the harsh and unrelenting background with footage of dancers dressed in colourful, free-flowing garments it becomes clear that Pangaea is a project defined by dichotomies. As Sassoon and Fry reveal, “it is about the relationship and polarity between calm and chaos.”
Considering the importance of juxtaposition in their work, the duo cite German choreographer Sasha Waltz as a source of inspiration (the also namecheck the “surrealness” of Alejandro Jodorowsky’s 1973 film The Holy Mountain and Christo and Jeanne Claude’s environmental art as inspirations). “Sasha’s choreography, costumes, prop-use, and environments have been so inspirational to us because her work exudes beauty, in a way that can be totally repulsive,” they enthuse. “It is true craft.”
Like Waltz, whose choreography often centres around improvisation, Sassoon and Fry selected dancers for Pangaea who were willing to extemporise. “We value iteration and experimentation,” the pair explain. “Our dancers have really beautiful, holistic views on dance. Each has created their own site-specific performance pieces.”
The finished piece, ethereal yet arresting, is as Sassoon and Fry desired; a beguiling ode to the natural world.
Watch the film below:
Credits
Directed and Produced By Kari Fry & Maya Sassoon
Director of Photography: Gus Bendinelli
Still Photography Kari Fry & Maya Sassoon
Film Editing Mah Ferraz
Sound DesignBri Levy
Choreography Sasha Chudacoff
Dancers:
Victor Adeniran
Henry Graham
Sasha Chudacoff
Sophia Chudacoff
Claire Kritter
Set Design Maya Sassoon
Fashion Kari Fry
Clothing Design
Walter Van Beirendonck
HYDRA
Lucy Doyle
Laura Lombardi