When Life is Silent
When Life is Silent is a feature film exploring Monte Verità in Ascona, Switzerland, a significant site for the development of early modern dance. The narrative unfolds against the backdrop of early 20th-century Europe, a period marked by societal disillusionment with modernity. This unique place attracted influential figures such as dance artists Mary Wigman, Rudolf Laban, and Charlotte Bara, poet and novelist Hermann Hesse, and psychiatrist Carl Gustav Jung, creating a crossroads that laid the foundation for avant-garde movements blending philosophy, psychology, and art.
Through an exploration of the dancers’ experiences, the narrative expands to encompass the broader impact of other luminaries, highlighting the symbiotic relationship between early modern dance and developments across various genres in the early 20th century. The film draws inspiration from archival materials, including writings, objects, testimonials, photographs, and artworks, many of which originate from the site. It explores the everyday practices that defined the colony's identity, such as dance, vegetarianism, and harmonious living with nature. These practices, reflecting a pacifist and libertarian ideal, tackled the challenges posed by industrialisation, urbanisation, and societal divisions.
In the face of today’s ecological and political challenges, When Life is Silent illuminates the enduring significance and transformative power of artists and artistic communities.
This film is funded by The Arts Council | An Chomhairle Ealaíon, Wicklow County Arts Office Strategic Project Awards 2024, and developed in partnership with Mermaid Arts Centre and Fondazione Monte Verità.
In production 2024 - 25.
Rudolf Laban and dancers at Monte Verità circa 1914