In Memory’s Theater

The film “In Memory’s Theater” begins with what seems to be a simple letter from the narrator to a grandparent. The film then grows into a philosophical meditation on the intersection of memory and existence. Delving into a small collection of color photographs left by this grandparent, the narrator attempts to draw a deeper understanding of the photographer and how these images paint a narrative of a particular time in the photographer's life. Through the contemplation of these photographs the narrator begins to unravel the intricacies that exist between the biological process of memory and how society understands the concept of ghosts. Coming into the 2nd half of the film the narrator begins to think in a more existential way, crafting a metaphor that compares cigarettes to memories and further to dreams. The film was shot on super 8 film and hand processed to mimic the biological aesthetics of memory. The film images are often clouded by haze, grit, and dust or have experienced drastic color shifts. All of which are consequences of the hand processing and completely random in an attempt to visualize how when we recall memories they are never as perfect as when they were experienced. Incorporating a few images which seem distinctly clear from the others acts to deepen the idea that some memories retain clarity while others slowly fade into obscurity. Further, the super 8 film itself will degrade over time until it no longer contains images, much like memory in a biological sense.

Link to distribution information: https://vtape.org/video?vi=10048