The Cradles

The first of three musical pieces where Kirsanoff teamed behind the camera with Boris Kaufman, dp of Vigo at the time and brother of one Dennis (alias Dziga Vertov), dubbed cinephonies and would probably have screened before a feature; music videos we would call them now.All three are short, visual, elemental, feature water and women. Here a lone mother in a dark room rocks a cradle while outside the window the sea heaves and splashes; images of waves on a shore; images of boats battling the waves. She's lulling a baby to sleep while probably singing for a husband who is out to sea.It's a music performance in the foreground, turbulent cinematic form in the background.