Håstdans på Hovdala| 1hr
Director: David Fischel, JoAnna Mendl Shaw, Ulrika Michels Nord | Producer: The Equus Projects
Focus Years: 2013 | Country: United States
Subject Tags: americas, art, creativity, four aspects, her mission, in her fields, psychology, united states
Quality Tags: Optimistic, Slow, Activating, Harmonizing
Synopsis:
Håstdans på Hovdala is a film about a unique creation process. In July 2013, The Equus Projects spent three weeks in a Swedish forest creating an evening length theatre work that brought together four dancers, four horses and a cast of Swedish performers with autism.
In Håstdans på Hovdala one cannot fully discern between able and autistic performer. Over 1000 people trekked into the woods over six performances including regional and national funders, the cultural attach from the US Embassy in Stockholm and Swedish national TV. Filmmaker David Fishel has made a compelling, funny and moving documentary about the creation of this unusual piece.
Memorable friendships were forged during the intense 13 days of rehearsal. Equus Projects Artistic Director JoAnna Mendl Shaw and cast shape a moving theatrical portrait of Michael Ehrenbourg, the man who envisioned a hexagonal stone library deep in the Hovdala beech wood forest. Sadly, Ehrenbourg died before the library was completed and it's remains hold the story of an ill-fated love affair: The private letters of Ehrenbourg reveal that he was in love with a young squire. Håstdans på Hovdala tells the story of this tender, then increasingly tumultuous love affair.
Filmmaker David Fishel follows the progression of the Håstdans på Hovdala creation process, capturing the rehearsal and creation process, the horsemanship training and the deepening connection that developed between the Swedish and American performers and the human and equine performers.
Håstdans på Hovdala features additional film footage shot by Swedish filmmaker Björn Petersson.