F A L L

A short solo contemporary dance film by Kathleen Doherty, exploring the complex intersection of emotion and environment. Embodying the struggle for mental health from the depths of the pandemic.

The artist’s struggle with their environment echoes the internal conflict that often accompanies mental health challenges. As a result, the image glitches and fractures, mirroring the artist’s own sense of disorientation and confusion. The artist's work evokes a somber, introspective mood hinting at anxiety and loss. Yet there is a sense of hopefulness as they reach for the light. This theme runs throughout, suggesting that even in the most difficult times there is a chance for redemption and renewal.

By confronting their own emotional challenges head-on and expressing them through their art, Kathleen has created a powerful work that is both deeply personal and universally resonant.

  • Kathleen Doherty
    Director
  • Rita Andias
    Film
  • Dave Boyd
    Composer
  • Project Type:
    Experimental, Short, Other
  • Genres:
    dance, performance art
  • Runtime:
    4 minutes 47 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    January 4, 2022
  • Production Budget:
    0 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    Ireland
  • Country of Filming:
    Portugal
  • Shooting Format:
    Canon 750D Lens 55.18
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Shorts @fringe
    Azores
    Portugal
    May 19, 2023
    Audience Award
  • Constructed Sight Dance Film Festival

    United States
    March 31, 2023
  • Cassette
    Mexico
    Mexico
    May 19, 2023
Director Biography - Kathleen Doherty

My name is Kathleen Doherty, my work merges contemporary dance, aerial and performance art. As a consequence of existing it is emotionally driven. The thematic focus is personal growth and the eternal question of what it means to be human.

Creating art in the form of performance since 2005, my most recent work “Martyr” was in collaboration with Portuguese hybrid-artist Alexandre Duarte, which premiered at the Irish Aerial Dance Festival in 2022. I have three projects upcoming, thematically focusing on the heartstrings that bind us as humans.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

In September 2020, I was living in Porto, Portugal. I didn't really know many people yet and I was still learning the language.

At midnight, I fell down flights of stairs outside my back door in the dark. My hands scraped at the walls with no avail trying to stop this head over heels descent, at one point there was a moment I felt nothing but air, the terrifying sound of my body hitting the end of the steps. Crawling back up those stairs with rocks and glass cutting into me, not knowing if I was ever going to make it, my vision in the dark blurry as I crawled towards the light of my kitchen. At that moment, when I finally dragged my bloody body to safety, I called the wrong person. That person asked me if anything was broken, when I said no. They hung up.

This film represents the feeling after the fall, sitting in my kitchen, my eyes glitching from the impact, washing my own blood off, repeating the mind-film over and over and over in a loop, not knowing if anyone in the world actually cared about me.

Life is better now. Sometimes you have to fall to find out that you need better people in your life.