Maya Deren's most influential work, Meshes of the Afternoon, fluctuates between dream and reality, a woman's consciousness and projections. Its haunting use of creative editing, photography, and symbolic images constructs a ritualistic examination of experience. A legendary figure in the avant-garde, Deren is the central character in both Meshes and At Land. A Study in Choreography for Camera, Ritual in Transfigured Time, and Meditation on Violence explore what Deren calls “film–dance-that is, a dance so related to camera and cutting that it cannot be 'performed' as a unit anywhere but in this particular film.” Tonight's program includes Ensemble for Somnambulists, an early version of The Very Eye of Night, which was recently rediscovered and preserved by Anthology Film Archives. Also assembled by Anthology is Out-takes from A Study in Choreography for Camera, “a vivid lesson in how she constructed a film.” (Jonas Mekas)