Meanwhile

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1:57

Meanwhile

2025

1h 28m

Documentary

Drama

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4 Reviews

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Fewer than 50 Ratings

MEANWHILE is a docu-poem in six verses about artists breathing through chaos. In dynamic collaboration, Jacqueline Woodson (text), Meshell Ndegeocello (soundscape), Erika Dilday (support), M. Trevino (structure), and Catherine Gund (direction), combine artists' expressions with historical and observational footage to unveil a rare cinematic mediation about identity, race, racism and resistance as they shape our shared breath. Centering breath as a symbol of resilience, Meanwhile captures raw, unfinished moments--dancers in rehearsal, artists midway through their work--focusing on the act of creation. Rooted in the upheavals of 2020, the film uses breath as its through-line to symbolize collective survival. It invites viewers to witness the process of liberation and be present in the "meanwhile"--a moment of creation, struggle, and hope that transcends fixed identities.

Alissa Wilkinson

New York Times

Mar 14, 2025

A provocation and a request to consider what flourishing looks like in this chaotic moment — for Black Americans, and for anyone who finds themselves drowning, struggling to breathe.

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Dennis Harvey

48 Hills

Jun 7, 2025

Its mix of archival and new footage provides a contemplative space in which to consider reconciliation between individual, group, and national identities.

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Christopher Campbell

Nonfics (Substack)

Mar 14, 2025

This “docu-poem” essay film is an essential experience right now, never mind that it’s meant to reflect the upheavals of 2020. It applies to the upheavals of 2025 just as well.

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Avi Offer

NYC Movie Guru

Mar 11, 2025

An unconventional, lyrical and thought-provoking documentary.

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Charles M

@cmallory May 29, 2026

‘Meanwhile,’ directed by Catherine Gund and written by Jacqueline Woodson, is a docu-poem about artists learning to breathe amid struggle and chaos. It blends poetry, historical reflection, and observational footage into a cinematic meditation on identity, race, resistance, and the shared human experience. The film unfolds at a deliberate pace, allowing viewers space to absorb both its imagery and its message. This calm, reflective approach stands in contrast to the pain expressed by many of its subjects, who describe experiences of exclusion and the feeling that they do not fully belong within the society around them. ‘Meanwhile’ is a poignant and thought-provoking work that invites viewers not only to listen to voices that are often overlooked, but also to reflect on the structures that contribute to their marginalization. By fostering empathy and understanding, the film encourages a vision of a society in which every person is recognized, accepted, and valued.

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Catherine Gund

Director

Jacqueline Woodson

Director

Meshell Ndegeocello

Director

Erika Dilday

Director

Ching-I Chang

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Mel Chin

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Synopsis

MEANWHILE is a docu-poem in six verses about artists breathing through chaos. In dynamic collaboration, Jacqueline Woodson (text), Meshell Ndegeocello (soundscape), Erika Dilday (support), M. Trevino (structure), and Catherine Gund (direction), combine artists' expressions with historical and observational footage to unveil a rare cinematic mediation about identity, race, racism and resistance as they shape our shared breath. Centering breath as a symbol of resilience, Meanwhile captures raw, unfinished moments--dancers in rehearsal, artists midway through their work--focusing on the act of creation. Rooted in the upheavals of 2020, the film uses breath as its through-line to symbolize collective survival. It invites viewers to witness the process of liberation and be present in the "meanwhile"--a moment of creation, struggle, and hope that transcends fixed identities.

Director: Catherine Gund, Jacqueline Woodson, Meshell Ndegeocello, Erika Dilday
Screenwriter: Jacqueline Woodson
Distributor: Abramorama
Production Co: Aubin Pictures
Genre: Documentary, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Mar 14, 2025, Limited
Runtime: 1h 28m

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