Fragments of Paradise

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Fragments of Paradise

2022

1h 38m

Documentary

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5 Reviews

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For over 70 years, Lithuanian filmmaker, Jonas Mekas, documented his life in what came to be known as his diary films. From his arrival in New York as a displaced person in 1949 to his death in 2019, he chronicled the trauma and loss of exile while pioneering institutions to support the growth of independent film in the United States. Internationally known as the “godfather” of avant-garde cinema, he inspired countless independent artists, from Martin Scorsese, Peter Bogdanovich, Andy Warhol, Yoko Ono, John Lennon to John Waters and Jim Jarmusch; all drawn to his indefatigable spirit and belief in the transformative power of cinema. But internally, he struggled. The traumas of his early life and exile stayed with him. Fragments of Paradise is an intimate look at his life and work constructed from thousands of hours of his own video and film diaries—including never-before-seen tapes and unpublished audio recordings. It is a story about finding beauty amidst profound loss, and a man who tried to make sense of it all… with a camera.

Christian Blauvelt

indieWire

Fragments of Paradise is a more than skin-deep overview of the late Mekas’ life, one that feels like a final message from him directly. It’s a tribute to art’s power to connect, even with those who are gone.

Rated: B

Sep 2, 2022

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Rich Cline

Shadows on the Wall

It's a remarkably intimate look at both Mekas and an undervalued aspect of the cinematic landscape.

Rated: 4/5

May 31, 2023

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Christopher Llewellyn Reed

Film Festival Today

By its conclusion, even a neophyte can appreciate the skill on display, both from Mekas and Davison.

Rated: 3.5/4

Nov 25, 2022

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Christian Gallichio

The Playlist

“Fragments” really comes alive when foregrounding Mekas’ own home videos.

Rated: B

Sep 9, 2022

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Stephen Saito

Moveable Fest

Honors Mekas’ adventurousness while remaining accessible for the casual viewer, no doubt inviting audiences much as the filmmaker and film advocate did to dig in a little deeper into the form he championed.

Sep 2, 2022

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KD Davison

Director

Martin Scorsese

Self

Peter Bogdanovich

Self

Jim Jarmusch

Self

Marina Abramović

Self

Phong Bui

Self

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Synopsis

For over 70 years, Lithuanian filmmaker, Jonas Mekas, documented his life in what came to be known as his diary films. From his arrival in New York as a displaced person in 1949 to his death in 2019, he chronicled the trauma and loss of exile while pioneering institutions to support the growth of independent film in the United States. Internationally known as the “godfather” of avant-garde cinema, he inspired countless independent artists, from Martin Scorsese, Peter Bogdanovich, Andy Warhol, Yoko Ono, John Lennon to John Waters and Jim Jarmusch; all drawn to his indefatigable spirit and belief in the transformative power of cinema. But internally, he struggled. The traumas of his early life and exile stayed with him. Fragments of Paradise is an intimate look at his life and work constructed from thousands of hours of his own video and film diaries—including never-before-seen tapes and unpublished audio recordings. It is a story about finding beauty amidst profound loss, and a man who tried to make sense of it all… with a camera.

Director: KD Davison
Genre: Documentary
Original Language: English
Runtime: 1h 38m