SFDFF is excited to be a community partner for the California Premiere of “Monk in Pieces” at the San Francisco Jewish Film Festival this summer! The feature length documentary provides a glimpse into the life and work of visionary composer and performer Meredith Monk, who routinely pairs dance, theater, film, and installations in her unique performances.
“Monk in Pieces”
Wednesday, July 23: Piedmont Theater, Oakland
2:00 PM: Buy Tickets
Sunday, August 3: Vogue Theater, San Francisco
6:00 PM: Buy Tickets
ABOUT THE FILM
“Monk in Pieces” (France, Germany, USA, 95 min)
Defying easy classification as a pioneer of interdisciplinary art in downtown New York in the ’60s and ’70s, Meredith Monk considers the human voice an instrument with a unique ability to emote beyond words. Her music centers her three-octave range as she transitions between whispers, ululations, guttural sounds, and lullabies. Now in her seventh decade of creativity, she ponders how such singular work can go on without her. Intertitled chapters, based largely on the artist’s works, segue playfully between archival performances, home movies, and family photos, present-day footage, and animated sequences based on her dream journals. Candid interviews with friends, collaborators, and admirers, including David Byrne, Björk, and Philip Glass, add context, while Monk herself provides an intimate glimpse into her studio, personal life, and process with her trademark intelligence. —Lori Donnelly
This film is available with closed captions.
ABOUT THE FILMMAKER
Billy Shebar is an Emmy-nominated filmmaker known for blending bold storytelling with striking visuals. His film High Noon on the Waterfront (2022), featuring John Turturro and Edward Norton, premiered at Telluride and aired on TCM and HBO. He wrote and produced Dark Matter (2007), starring Meryl Streep, which won the Alfred P. Sloan Prize at Sundance. Billy also collaborated with Oscar-nominated animator Bill Plympton on the viral NYT series Trump Bites and with Yoni Goodman on the animated crime docuseries Doctor’s Orders (2021), now streaming on Max, Hulu, and Amazon.
SAN FRANCISCO JEWISH FILM FESTIVAL
The 45th San Francisco Jewish Film Festival is taking place July 17 – August 3, 2025 across San Francisco and the East Bay. This year’s festival presents a world-class showcase of independent cinema that celebrates the diversity and joy of Jewish identity, culture, and history. Discover more at sfjff.org and @sfjewishfilm!
