Ghostlight (2004)

Synopsis: GHOSTLIGHT is a hilarious albeit affectionate film about Martha Graham -- one of the twentieth century's greatest dancers and choreographers. she was a brash noncomformist who bristled with... GHOSTLIGHT is a hilarious albeit affectionate film about Martha Graham -- one of the twentieth century's greatest dancers and choreographers. she was a brash noncomformist who bristled with passion, sexuality and wit. In an astonishing performance, Richard Move, a man nearly twice her size, portrays Martha with uncanny precision and decidedly arrogant grandeur. Graham was an iconic powerhouse whose extraordinary life included an invitation from Eleanor Roosevelt to perform at the White House, having Jacqueline Onasis edit her memoirs and lots of parties at Studio 54 with friends like Halston, Andy Warhol and Liza Minnelli. In the film's screenplay, the words of Martha are largely the actual words or writings of Martha Graham. When delivered by Move the words can seem ironic or amusing, but their message is often philosophical and even prophetic. The non-linear narrative style of GHOSTLIGHT gave Move and director Christopher Herrmann the freedom to construct an entertaining portrait of this fascinating modernist pioneer. The film as at once a performance piece, love letter and a startling introduction to Martha's larger-than-life personality. While inherently improbable, by the end of the film it is hard to imagine anyone but Move playing Martha. Martha believed deeply in the idea of "blood memory" a notion that informed her entire life. In GHOSTLIGHT, "blood memory" sequences are rendered as flashbacks depicting Martha's memories and her complex creative process. She wrote about the notion of biological remembrance. "Sometimes it's blood memory... not the blood your mother and father gave you... but that which stretches back two or three thousand years." This particular sense of personal history led her to draw from a broad range of choreographic subjects, from Greek tragedy and American literary classics to the joys and anguish of human relationships. The timeframe of GHOSTLIGHT is unconventional as the film explores events and memories throughout Martha's professional life. The style is much like Martha's prolific choreography in which her dancers attack the stage and seem to be everywhere at once. Ultimately, the drama of her life and her explosive imagination were both cohesive and captivating. -- © Lot 47 Films [More]

Studio: Lot 47 Films