bridge/refrain : a short film

bridge/refrain is a short film exploring a young woman’s arrival to the land of the ancestors after falling victim to gun violence. Here, she discovers that though there is healing for her wounds and safety in the arms of benevolent beings, her work is far from done. A beautiful antique vanity serves as a vehicle through which she discovers her charge and her crown — black bodies buckling but not breaking under the weight of American life. She takes her place amongst those who uphold us.

bridge/refrain seeks to honor the feminine energy as both protector and nurturer, while confronting the epidemic of all manner of violence against women. In the tradition of photographer Imogen Cunningham, the film honors the woman’s form with a graceful eye, directed by Roni Nicole Henderson and lensed by collaborator Iyabo Kwayana.

Credit: Exhibition overview from museum website