Ritual in Transfigured Time

Ritual in Transfigured Time (1946) is a short film by Maya Deren, often called the "mother" of American avant-garde filmmaking. Deren's films explore the human psyche and the potential of film to delve into subjective experiences.1

In Ritual in Transfigured Time, Deren, who also appears in the film, uses dance and imaginative editing to explore the nature of change. The film is characterized by its trance-like state where time and space are transformed, reflecting themes common in rites of passage and symbolic ceremonies that mark transitions in life. Deren's work, including this film, is noted for its poetic and instructive qualities, demonstrating film's capacity to convey complex psychological and symbolic ideas.12