Moves

Hakemuksen tiivistelmä

This experimental documentary offers an intimate and in-depth portrait of Finnish performance artist and dance practitioner Inari Virmakoski, filmed by Azade Shahmiri, a performance and video artist from Iran. Building on the collaborative improvisational dance created during the Saari Residency 2022, where both were artists-in-residence, the documentary will explore the themes of artistic improvisation nature as a source of inspiration, ageism and ableism in the performing arts, cross-cultural collaboration and Inari's unique approach to movement and dance, mainly focusing on the question of “What moves her?”. The film offers a comprehensive insight into Inari's creative journey and her relation to Finnish nature, blending personal reflections with footage of her performances and the artistic process that defines her work. The experimental documentary dives deep into Inari's multifaceted performance by capturing her creative processes and practices. The structure of the film alternates between key moments of improvisation, behind-the-scenes footage and explorations of her methods. The improvisation performed during the Saari residency in 2022 will serve as the central line, while additional footage will shed light on their personal narratives, their other works, rehearsals and performances. The visual style of the documentary will emphasize the fluid and organic nature of Inari's movement, with dynamic footage capturing her dance in both natural and staged environments, outdoors and indoors. Azade considers herself an amateur filmmaker, openly experimenting with the medium and materials. The same goes for Inari, who sees herself as an amateur dancer, constantly improvising and experimenting. For this reason, and because of the filmmaker's previous experience documenting their work together, this project is a natural and meaningful continuation of their artistic partnership.