Pavane For A Missing Play

Foreman spent the early months of 1979 rehearsing a play called Madness and Tranquility (My Head Was a Sledgehammer), which he abruptly cancelled very shortly before its scheduled opening. Film critic and longtime CalArts professor Berenice Reynaud documented those rehearsals and used the footage in this rarely screened essay film, which had long been considered lost. Miraculously, Anthology has recently rediscovered the original 16mm elements and has digitally restored the film for this occasion. A truly exciting find that presents the only known footage of an important, albeit lost, Foreman work.

Directed by Berenice Reynaud, Pavane For A Missing Play leans on a strong ensemble — Richard Foreman, Scotty Snyder, Kate Manheim — 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 documentary titles of 1979.