Lines in the Sand

"Commissioned by Dokumenta XI in 2002, Jonas' multimedia performance piece Lines in the Sand takes up two works by the poet H.D. (Hilda Doolittle)—Helen in Egypt (1955) and Tribute to Freud (1944)—as source material. Narrated by Jonas, Lines in the Sand transposes H.D.'s re-working of the story of Helen of Troy to present-day Las Vegas, with the Luxor Hotel as a key motif. This 47-minute video is a document of Jonas' layered theatrical performance, which features the artist and performers interacting with large-scale video projections, ritualized objects and a rich sound collage. An exploration of the liberation of the self, Lines in the Sand (created in 2002, just prior to the U.S. invasion of Iraq) also references contemporary political realities; the title echoes the first President Bush's declaration to Saddam Hussein at the start of the Gulf War. Work based on 'Helen in Egypt,' a poem by H.D. (Hilda Doolittle)." –KG

Directed by —, Lines in the Sand leans on a strong ensemble — Joan Jonas — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.

The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about screen titles of 0.