Frances Nkara
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Frances Nkara |
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Email: francesnkara@yahoo.com http://www.downpourresurfacing.com/ |
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Frances Nkara uses the dream-like possibilities of film to visualize stories primarily unfolding in internal, psychological realms, and ties them to social, cultural, and political dynamics. Through early intensive training and publication in experimental science at UC Berkeley and the University of Gothenburg, Sweden, Nkara became captivated with venturing into the unknown and finding new ideas. Extending this experimental approach into art, she turned to nonverbal and body-centered media to deepen the physical-psychological underpinnings of imagery and stories. Dance, movement improvisation, meditation practices, bodywork (CMT), and culinary invention as a vegetarian chef inspired the creation of performances and films which explored the body-based nature of our minds and its role in cultural change. She also delved into political psychology as former California Governor Jerry Brown’s radio producer, and developed the traditional craft of narrative fiction filmmaking while freelancing. Nkara’s film Downpour Resurfacing premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and was awarded seven prizes at other festivals. This “internal” documentary employs dream-like metaphorical images to communicate the psychological and emotional repercussions of child sexual and physical abuse as well as paths to healing. The unusual combination of this kind of imagery with nonfiction story expanded possibilities of the traditional documentary genre. Because this combination also elucidated social meanings of abstract and surreal imagery, Film Threat dubbed it “experimental film that matters”. After its national broadcast on PBS's "Independent Lens", audience members wrote in that it moved them in very unusual ways to change their lives. |
