Duties of My Heart

Deaf ASL poet Terrylene and dancers illuminate Barbara Barg's poem of resilience.
by
judy lieff
2024
10 mins

Originally shot on 16mm, Duties of My Heart breathes life into Barbara Barg’s poem through the expressive and evocative movement of American Sign Language and dance. It creates a visual and auditory poetic experience and weaves a tapestry of sorrow, resilience and revival.

"Following the law of the heart is ultimately a revolutionary act in poet Barg's world, calling us to free our bodies from the rule of authority and find a space we can call our own."
Peter Valente
Author, Translator, Filmmaker
Read more at: drive.google.com

Synopsis

Influenced by the experimental dance filmmakers of the 1940s, Duties of My Heart explores the intersection of poetry, American Sign Language (ASL), and dance. This film stands as a testament to the power of expressive movement and the beauty of language in motion, bridging the worlds of silence and sound, and laying the foundation for future explorations in visual storytelling. Constructed for both hearing and Deaf audiences, the film also offers a uniquely inclusive experience.

It opens in black and white with the main character, a Deaf actor, coming home at the end of her day. She settles down to write a poem which she expresses through the unique visuals, cadence, and poetics of ASL. As her imagination takes flight, the screen blossoms into vibrant color, seamlessly merging ASL and dance to illustrate the heart's duty to sing amidst darkness and sorrow. This artistic transformation not only visually captivates but also incorporates the voice of the poet, music and sound design for hearing audiences. Each movement and gesture breathes life into the verses, not only honoring the original poem's lyrical beauty but also redefining it through a unique visual language, making it a poignant and unforgettable cinematic experience.

Reviews
"What makes this particular piece stand out is the sheer mastery of Deaf ASL poet Terrylene in this remastered cine-poem...Terrylene’s creative placement of signs, not only conveys meaning but also evokes deep emotional resonance."
Eric Epstein
Published ASL poet, Author, Educator
Read more at: drive.google.com

Director Commentary

Duties of My Heart is an experimental short film that emerged from my studies at CalArts and a serendipitous introduction to the world of sign language. Originally conceived as the final scene for a longer work, this film evolved into a standalone piece that explores the intersection of poetry, sign language, and dance.

The project's genesis came from a life-changing visit to TRIPOD, a preschool for deaf children, which inspired me to expand sign language into dance choreography. Working with an interpreter, I began translating the poem into sign Language, not realizing I was approaching the process backwards.

It wasn't until I met Terrylene Sacchetti, a remarkable Deaf artist, poet, and educator featured in the film, that I understood the true nature of American Sign Language (ASL) and ASL poetry. Terrylene opened my eyes to ASL as a three-dimensional language, distinct from signed English. In ASL poetry, rhymes are measured in hand shapes, meter in movements, and verses transcend spoken word entirely.

The film presents three parallel poems:

The original written text

The ASL translation

A choreographic fusion of sign and dance

The dance sequences were filmed at the historic Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles, a location rich with cultural significance as the site where Robert F. Kennedy was assassinated. At the same time, I was also working with experimental filmmaker Pat O'Neill on his landmark film "The Decay of Fiction." Pat taught me to see empty spaces, light, and architecture as characters, which significantly influenced my approach to filming Duties of My Heart.

The loose narrative pays homage to Maya Deren and early experimental filmmakers of the 1940s. It follows a protagonist imagining the poem through movement rather than written words.

The poem itself is by Barbara Barg, a prominent figure in New York City's downtown poetry and music scene from the 1970s to the 1990s. Barg co-founded the all-women cult band "Homer Erotic" and was on faculty at the Chicago School of Poetics.

Duties of My Heart represents a pivotal moment in my filmmaking journey, bridging my experimental film background with my growing fascination with deaf culture and ASL. This exploration laid the groundwork for my later work, including Deaf Jam, and continues to influence my approach to visual storytelling and language.

Features and Languages

Film Features

  • Closed Captioning

Film/Audio Languages

  • English
  • American Sign Language

Subtitle/Caption Languages

  • English
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