Marina Abramović: The Artist Is Present

“A moving and masterfully constructed exploration of what makes art—or anything else—worth doing in the first place.”—Andrew O’Hehir, Salon.com

“Easily the best documentary of the 2012 Sundance Film festival, it’s also an early contender for the best doc of 2012.”—San Francisco Bay Guardian

One of the most seductive, fearless, and controversial artists of our time, Marina Abramović uses her own body as a vehicle for her art. Pushing herself beyond her physical and mental limits—and at times risking her life in the process—she creates performances that challenge, shock, and move us. Her 2010 MoMA retrospective featured an already iconic performance (from which the documentary takes its subtitle), experienced by 750,000 people, many of whom waited hours for a chance to stare silently across from her at a small table, where she remained for seven and a half hours daily, without eating, drinking, or moving. The intensity and intimacy of the act (even though it took place in a huge room filled with onlookers) moved many participants to tears. This powerful and compelling film records Abramović as she prepares herself physically and spiritually for the ordeal. (105 mins., video)