Adolfas Mekas

Adolfas Mekas
Born 30 September 1925(1925-09-30)
Semeniškiai, Biržai, Lithuania
Died 31 May 2011(2011-05-31) (aged 85)
Nationality Lithuanian
Field Cinema
Movement Avant-garde cinema

Adolfas Mekas (30 September 1925 – 31 May 2011) was a Lithuanian-born film director, and brother of Jonas Mekas. He is principally known for his work in the United States.

Prior to World War II, Adolfas and Jonas Mekas had set up a theatre. Later, in a camp for displaced persons, they studied with a teacher of the Stanislavsky System.[1] The brothers emigrated to the United States in 1949. They studied with Hans Richter before establishing Film Culture magazine in 1955.[2]

Mekas directed a number of films including Hallelujah the Hills and Going Home, both of which are considered landmarks of the New American Cinema movement.[3][4] In 1971 he joined the newly formed film department at Bard College, which was soon dubbed the "Peoples' Film Department" under his chairmanship.[citation needed] He continued to teach at Bard until retiring in May 2004.

He died on 31 May 2011.[5][6]

Selected filmography

References

  1. ^ Sitney, P. Adams (1979). Visionary Film. Oxford University Press. p. 345. ISBN 0-19-502486-9. 
  2. ^ Sitney, P. Adams (1979). Visionary Film. Oxford University Press. p. 341. ISBN 0-19-502486-9. 
  3. ^ Village Voice retrospective review of Hallelujah the Hills by Ed Halter
  4. ^ American Independent Cinema of the 60's from Bright Lights Film Journal
  5. ^ Bruce Weber (June 2, 2011). "Adolfas Mekas, Avant-Garde Filmmaker and Teacher, Is Dead at 85". The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/03/movies/adolfas-mekas-avant-garde-filmmaker-and-teacher-is-dead-at-85.html?ref=deathsobituaries. 
  6. ^ IndieWire (May 31, 2011)

External links

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