Short film

Street Songs

1983 · 10 min

A hypnotic, ritualistic performance piece that feels like a political meditation, both intimate and collectively powerful.

Directed by: Jonas Mekas
Starring: Julian Beck

Overview: "STREET SONGS is a 1966 performance, in France, of a section of the Living Theater's 'Mysteries and Smaller Pieces.' Based on a chance-determined scenario written by Jackson Maclow in 1961, STREET SONGS weaves militant political chants into a mandala of mantras. Julian Becvk sits cross legged on an empty stage; the slogan he repeats - 'Free All Men! Ban the Bomb! Stop the War! Free the Blacks! Change the World!' - are both meditation and calls to action, as a crowd of voices answers each slogan and actors join him on stage to pace in a circle, clasp one another's shoulders and collectively breath 'Ohmm...' ..." -- Sally Banes, Village Voice, October 18, 1983

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Directed by: Jonas Mekas
Starring: Julian Beck

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How it feels

Written by AI. It can be wrong.

Tone: earneststrength 3 of 3
tensestrength 2 of 3
upliftingstrength 1 of 3
Pacing: slow-burn, 1 of 4, from slow-burn to relentless
Attention: demanding, 4 of 4, from background-friendly to demanding
Themes: politics
rebellion
war
freedom
power
Places: None
Era: period
Audience: adult
Form: single location
documentary
Content intensity: Gore none
Language mild
Violence none
Sex none

All scales, 0 to 10

Scales, 0 to 10
Scale	Value	0 to 10
Action	1
Horror	0
Humour	1
Realism	9
Romance	0
Tension	5
Darkness	3
Complexity	6
Emotional weight	7

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