Reminiscences of a Journey

The importance of Jonas Mekas (1922–2019) to the world of American independent and experimental film cannot be overestimated. Reaching the United States after World War II with his brother Adolfas, Mekas would, over the next 70 years, become a critical figure in exhibiting, distributing, and reviewing experimental films, organizing the New York scene, and, by extension, establishing the society in which avant-garde film culture is created and appreciated to this day. His death earlier this year at age 96, shortly after completing two books for publication, marked the end of a generation, especially as it was so shortly followed by the deaths of Barbara Hammer and Carolee Schneemann.

Over the course of decades, even while he was cofounder of the distributor Filmmakers’ Cooperative and founder of Anthology Film Archives, a film reviewer for The Village Voice, editor of Film Culture, poet, filmmaker, and more, Mekas made a large number of films. Overall he described his films as “Diaries, Notes and Sketches.” This film program's tribute includes three examples: Williamsburg, Brooklyn, a more recent video piece that also includes some of his earliest footage from the 1950s; reel one of Walden, which also includes the short films Notes on the Circus and Cassis; and his feature film, Reminiscences of a Journey to Lithuania.