Compass in Hand

Compass In Hand is a 9 minute experimental cinematic-sonic experience which departed from the perspective that “I was born in a wasteland of other peoples’ dreams” - aka the paradigm of the neo-liberal cis-het white supremacy patriarchy. Through processes of re-mythologisation, performance, ritual and the blurring of the medical and other realms within the pluriversal existence, Compass in Hand is the acknowledgment and reclaiming of agency and epistemology of the survivor, the neurodivergent, & the trans beings within the spiral of time.

.

Compass in Hand is a 9-minute experimental cinematic-sonic creation that explores rebirth and transformation from multiple dimensions and spans across different time zones.

Compass in Hand is Josie Alexandra’s first directorial work and is the first chapter in a seven chapter series of audio visual moving image works: Considered Dialogues

One of the time zones in the work is a 'Witchy Deep Past-Future’ where the character Circe conducts transformations from the invisible island of Aeaea in the Mediterranean.

Then, there is 'The Future-Present,' which involves a ritualistic performance of an Acupuncture session and a re-mythologisation of Daphne’s story. In this time zone, the set was constructed by reimagining Leonora Carrington's 1960 painting Adieu Ammenotep.

During the processes of acupuncture needling and Daphne’s bay leaf extraction the film introduces yet another time zone, 'The Spiritual Present,' here the main actor is bound in rope on the medical table and draped in gold fabric performing in an ancient cave filled with stalagmites.

The ritual, choreographed movements in this time zone locations highlight the un-bounding of stagnation that one goes through whilst transforming.

The central themes in this work are rebirth transformations; the many narratives that need rewriting when reconstructing one's identity.

It departs from the narrative of being born within a framework of other people's dreams - of the neo-liberal cis-het white supremacy patriarchy.

Through a combination of re-mythologization, performance, ritual, and the blending of medical and other realms within a pluralistic existence, Compass in Hand presents an acknowledgment and reclamation of agency and knowledge of the survivor, the neurodivergent and transgender being(s) within the spiral of time.

Josie Alexandra, Compass In Hand, 2023. Audio Visual, 9:00min.

Collaborators: Joli Boardman: DOP | Co-Director | Lighting | Colour Grading, William Hamilton-Coates: Photographer | Cameraman, Eve Maxwell aka Age of Foolishness: Stylist, Guy Louis Faletolu: Sound Engineer | Mastering, Dimitris Kavallieratos: Cameraman, John McGarity: Cameraman, and Tiffany Walling McGarity: Photography.