Co-presented by Chitresh Das Institute and San Francisco Dance Film Festival
In a dilapidated former Arctic research station, “Creature” is unknowingly enlisted by a fascistic military brigade into a program that subjects him to experimentation, harsh conditions, and isolation. He finds himself enamored with Marie, a cleaner, the only person to show him kindness and compassion; together they dream of escape from their dystopian environment.
Academy Award-winner Asif Kapadia (Senna, Amy, The Warrior) directs Creature, a genre-busting collaboration that fuses film and contemporary dance by acclaimed choreographer Akram Khan, produced by Uzma Hasan, and performed by the English National Ballet with music by Vincenzo Lamagna.
Asif Kapadia: “The creature (Jeffrey Cirio) and Marie (Erina Takahashi) want to be part of something, a society, but they’ll never be a part of it. They’ll be used, abused, screwed up and left by the people with power…Environment, global warming, religion, colonialism, xenophobia, Brexit, Trump. Outsiders searching for belonging. The enduring hope of human connection. It’s all those things, everything.”
“Intense…makes dance feel accessible and intimate” – Anna Smith, Deadline
Kapadia’s documentary sensibilities work astutely in this beautifully performed ensemble piece. A soulful and engaging feat in collaborative filmmaking. – Beth Web, Empire Online
The film feels so prescient, as though addressing the state of the world today: the abuse of power, the rise of the dictator and dictatorship, corruption, chaos, otherness. – Hynam Kendall, AnOther Magazine
Content consideration for sensitive viewers: Contemporary dance depiction of sexual harassment and assault. Flashing lights/images.