Meanwhile

Play trailer

1:57

Meanwhile

2025

1h 28m

Documentary

Drama

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

Tomatometer

4 Reviews

Popcornmeter

Fewer than 50 Ratings

MEANWHILE is a docu-poem in six verses about artists breathing through chaos. In dynamic collaboration, Jacqueline Woodson (text), Meshell Ndegeocello (soundscape), Erika Dilday (support), M. Trevino (structure), and Catherine Gund (direction), combine artists' expressions with historical and observational footage to unveil a rare cinematic mediation about identity, race, racism and resistance as they shape our shared breath. Centering breath as a symbol of resilience, Meanwhile captures raw, unfinished moments--dancers in rehearsal, artists midway through their work--focusing on the act of creation. Rooted in the upheavals of 2020, the film uses breath as its through-line to symbolize collective survival. It invites viewers to witness the process of liberation and be present in the "meanwhile"--a moment of creation, struggle, and hope that transcends fixed identities.

Alissa Wilkinson

New York Times

03/14/2025

A provocation and a request to consider what flourishing looks like in this chaotic moment — for Black Americans, and for anyone who finds themselves drowning, struggling to breathe.

Go to Full Review

Dennis Harvey

48 Hills

06/07/2025

Its mix of archival and new footage provides a contemplative space in which to consider reconciliation between individual, group, and national identities.

Go to Full Review

Christopher Campbell

Nonfics (Substack)

03/14/2025

This “docu-poem” essay film is an essential experience right now, never mind that it’s meant to reflect the upheavals of 2020. It applies to the upheavals of 2025 just as well.

Go to Full Review

Avi Offer

NYC Movie Guru

03/11/2025

An unconventional, lyrical and thought-provoking documentary.

Go to Full Review

Read all reviews

Charles M

@cmallory May 29

‘Meanwhile,’ directed by Catherine Gund and written by Jacqueline Woodson, is a docu-poem about artists learning to breathe amid struggle and chaos. It blends poetry, historical reflection, and observational footage into a cinematic meditation on identity, race, resistance, and the shared human experience. The film unfolds at a deliberate pace, allowing viewers space to absorb both its imagery and its message. This calm, reflective approach stands in contrast to the pain expressed by many of its subjects, who describe experiences of exclusion and the feeling that they do not fully belong within the society around them. ‘Meanwhile’ is a poignant and thought-provoking work that invites viewers not only to listen to voices that are often overlooked, but also to reflect on the structures that contribute to their marginalization. By fostering empathy and understanding, the film encourages a vision of a society in which every person is recognized, accepted, and valued.

See more

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

POST RATING

Catherine Gund

Director

Jacqueline Woodson

Director

Meshell Ndegeocello

Director

Erika Dilday

Director

Ching-I Chang

Self

Mel Chin

Self

The Plains

100%

%

The Plains

Watchlist

Not Just a Goof

100%

%

Not Just a Goof

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Not Just a Goof

Henry Fonda for President

86%

%

Henry Fonda for President

Watchlist

Leila and the Wolves

%

%

Leila and the Wolves

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Leila and the Wolves

Children of the Mist

95%

100%

Children of the Mist

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Children of the Mist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

Meanwhile: Trailer 1

1:57

View more videos

View more photos

Synopsis

MEANWHILE is a docu-poem in six verses about artists breathing through chaos. In dynamic collaboration, Jacqueline Woodson (text), Meshell Ndegeocello (soundscape), Erika Dilday (support), M. Trevino (structure), and Catherine Gund (direction), combine artists' expressions with historical and observational footage to unveil a rare cinematic mediation about identity, race, racism and resistance as they shape our shared breath. Centering breath as a symbol of resilience, Meanwhile captures raw, unfinished moments--dancers in rehearsal, artists midway through their work--focusing on the act of creation. Rooted in the upheavals of 2020, the film uses breath as its through-line to symbolize collective survival. It invites viewers to witness the process of liberation and be present in the "meanwhile"--a moment of creation, struggle, and hope that transcends fixed identities.

Director: Catherine Gund, Jacqueline Woodson, Meshell Ndegeocello, Erika Dilday
Screenwriter: Jacqueline Woodson
Distributor: Abramorama
Production Co: Aubin Pictures
Genre: Documentary, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Mar 14, 2025, Limited
Runtime: 1h 28m