Interior

This footage by JoAnn Elam from around 1974 shows Elam’s home in Chicago, her dog, her books and cans of films, her garden through the window, nature during the summer, the city in the snow during the winter, and Elam herself from up close, among others. Even if the image is sometimes out of focus and underexposed, Interior gives us an intimate glimpse into Elam’s home, personal life, and filmmaking practices. As in many other elements in this collection, the places and things around her also give her the opportunity to experiment with cinema’s wide-ranging possibilities, including color, black and white, lighting, and fast-paced editing.