Jonas Mekas

Jonas Mekas's story is one of hardship and triumph. In a time where Avant-Garde cinema was more prominent in its originating country of France, Mekas was an icon and slowly making the genre prevalent in America. His ability to capture peoples lives as if he were a fly on the wall, with no interaction amongst the subjects paints a new light on the idea of the emerging American Avant-Garde. For someone who has lead such an adventurous life, Mekas's snapshots take on an almost simplistic approach to common everyday life. He exemplifies himself as an artist when he did away with scripted films. Mekas's creativity is at its peak when he simply dives into a scene with his camera. This is the kind of director that films with no constraints, and because of this nothing is off limits. His choice to film with hand held recorders is one of the many choices he makes to capture the reality of his subjects. Jerky camera movements mimic the scene unfolding as he records it. Loud chaotic scenes with actors who are only barely audible by the audience leaves what was said a mystery. Every cinematic decision made you can tell Mekas spent time meticulously playing it over in his head all in the pursuit of Avant-Garde cinema.