“A Stumbling Two-Step”

Some Brief Comments on this month’s film, “Dance First”
By Mountain Shadow Director, John Bennison

I was first introduced to the works of Samuel Beckett more than a half-century ago; as an undergrad student, majoring in philosophy and religion. It was a philosophy prof that included reading the play, “Waiting for Godot” in the curriculum; since Beckett himself insisted Godot was not to be interpreted or understood as a nickname for “God,” in disguise.

That play (along with his other writings that won him the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1969) constituted Beckett’s contribution to what became known as “theater of the absurd;” with his two characters waiting for someone who never shows up. In this particular strain of existential thought, the conjecture is that the search for life’s meaning may be as pointless as it is endless. Better to “dance first, think later, it’s the natural order” (Beckett’s full quote).

Whether one would ascribe to such a rather bleak description of life – especially if, like me, you’re not very good at dancing -- the depiction of this one particular person’s life constitutes a poignant bio-drama with this film. Philosophical thought aside, the multiple life chapters laid out in this script can be readily identifiable to the viewer in this very human life story. Shot in archival-like black and white only enhances the effect. jb

A Postscript:

When a youngish Beckett seeks to become a protegé to the esteemed James Joyce, the latter tries to dissuade Beckett with this cautionary self-description:

“I hope you do not think that you can learn from me. That you have come to seek epiphany at my broken altar. I am not the James Joyce of “Ulysses.” I am the James Joyce of failed endeavor .. My head is full of pebbles, and rubbish, and bits of glass, and broken matches. Why would you wish to set out on such a despiriting journey?”

Characteristically, Beckett replies, “Mr. Joyce, I’d rather watch you fail than anyone else.”