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Story: Experimental film

Jillian dressing

This film, made in 1976, is typical of the work of poet and artist Joanna Paul. Her focus was on the details of domestic life – a woman puts on and takes off various jerseys, the wind blows trees and the washing on the line, a child waits in the high chair for food, a man saws wood with a chainsaw. All the action occurs within, or close by, a colonial cottage. The film works like a form of cinematic 'still life'. 

Using this item

Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision

Reference: F35450

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How to cite this page

Mark Williams, Experimental film – Experimentation expands, 1970s to 1990s, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/interactive/45036/jillian-dressing (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Mark Williams, published 15 April 2014.

Comments

Ross
20 October 2014
I have it on good authority that Jillian is the film-maker's sister-in-law, Jillian Harris; and the guy with the chainsaw is the photographer Laurence Aberhart. Does this information change the film's category from experimental to documentary?