IDFA 2022
The Eagle & the Tortoise
Sister Sylvester
Netherlands, United States
2021
70 min
International Premiere
Sister Sylvester is the author and storyteller of The Eagle and the Tortoise, a book she made for collective reading. This performance with live music and film traces the history of the aerial view, in documentary, journalism and art.
The narrative follows the story of a young woman from Turkey, a militant activist, an icon of Leftist resistance, and a proxy fighter in the US war against ISIS. Audience members read parts of the book themselves while following stage directions that result in changes to the lighting and sound. This extraordinary approach to storytelling sheds light—literally and figuratively—on a little-known story.
Credits
Director
Sister Sylvester
Sister Sylvester
Created by
Sister Sylvester
Sister Sylvester
Production
Cinematography
Onur Karaoğlu,
Sister Sylvester,
Nathan Saucier
Onur Karaoğlu,
Sister Sylvester,
Nathan Saucier
Sound Design
Jeremy Toussaint-Baptiste
Jeremy Toussaint-Baptiste
Music
Screenplay
Sister Sylvester
Sister Sylvester
Designer
Bruce Steinberg,
efrîn nowar,
Robin A Ediger-Seto
Bruce Steinberg,
efrîn nowar,
Robin A Ediger-Seto