Stan Brakhage is one of the most influential filmmakers in American avant-garde cinema, noted for his unflinching social commentaries and technical innovations. Over his nearly 40-year career, he has made over 200 films of varying length. He made his first film, Interim (1952) at age 18 after dropping out of college. Brakhage films seek to change the way we see. They encourage viewers to eschew traditional narrative structure in favor of pure visual perception that is not reliant on naming what is seen; rather his goal is to create a more visceral visual experience, for he believes that a "stream-of visual-consciousness could be nothing less than the pathway of the soul." To this end, his films are shot in highly sensual colors and utilize minimal soundtracks.
His work can be divided into distinct periods. His first short films explored the properties and possibilities of light. In many of his experimental ventures, Brakhage has forgone traditional cinematography in favor of working directly with the film stock itself. He has occasionally painted, inked, scratched and dyed images onto it; he has also tried pasting organic objects on the film. His most famous example is the 1963 short Mothlight in which he glued moth wings onto the stock. Some of his early films were based on his most intimate experiences that included making love to his new bride--depicted on negative film--in Wedlock House: An Intercourse (1959), and an attempt to bring his dead dog back to life with a camera in Sirius Remembered (1959). During the 1960s, Brakhage's iconoclastic views were celebrated for their poetry, but during the '70s, his focus changed to social issues and he alienated many supporters with such disturbing film series as the "Pittsburgh documents" in which he presented many gruesome views of inner city life with films such as Act of Seeing with One's Own Eyes (1971) which was shot in a morgue. He also continued with autobiographical material with the "Sincerity/Duplicity series. During the 1980s, Brakhage's focus again changed--this time he became intrigued with creating truly "abstract" films such as Arabics (1982) which consists of brilliant bursts of colored light which he claims, represent "envisioned music." In addition to filmmaking, Brakhage also wrote books about films and filmmaking and also served as a teacher.
Full Filmography
Directing
Interim
(1952)
Director
Unglassed Windows Cast a Terrible Reflection
(1953)
Director
The Boy and the Sea
(1953)
Director
Desistfilm
(1954)
Director
The Way to Shadow Garden
(1954)
Director
The Extraordinary Child
(1954)
Director
The Wonder Ring
(1955)
Director
Centuries of June
(1955)
Director
Reflections on Black
(1955)
Director
In Between
(1955)
Director
Untitled Film of Geoffrey Holder's Wedding
(1955)
Director
Flesh of Morning
(1956)
Director
Nightcats
(1956)
Director
Zone Moment
(1956)
Director
Loving
(1957)
Director
Daybreak and Whiteye
(1957)
Director
Anticipation of the Night
(1958)
Director
Window Water Baby Moving
(1959)
Director
Cat's Cradle
(1959)
Director
Wedlock House: An Intercourse
(1959)
Director
Sirius Remembered
(1959)
Director
The Dead
(1960)
Director
Colorado Legend
(1960)
Director
Thigh Line Lyre Triangular
(1961)
Director
Films by Stan Brakhage: An Avant-Garde Home Movie
(1961)
Director
Ballad of the Colorado Ute
(1961)
Director
Prelude: Dog Star Man
(1962)
Director
Blue Moses
(1962)
Director
Mr. Tompkins Inside Himself
(1962)
Director
Silent Sound Sense Stars Subotnick and Sender
(1962)
Director
Dog Star Man: Part I
(1963)
Director
Mothlight
(1963)
Director
Dog Star Man: Part II
(1963)
Director
Oh Life - a Woe Story - the A Test News
(1963)
Director
Dog Star Man: Part III
(1964)
Director
Dog Star Man: Part IV
(1964)
Director
Song 6
(1964)
Director
Song 1
(1964)
Director
Song 5
(1964)
Director
Song 2
(1964)
Director
Song 8
(1964)
Director
Song 3
(1964)
Director
Song 7
(1964)
Director
Song 4
(1964)
Director
The Art of Vision
(1965)
Director
Two: Creeley/McClure
(1965)
Director
Song 9
(1965)
Director
Song 12
(1965)
Director
Song 14
(1965)
Director
Song 11
(1965)
Director
Song 13
(1965)
Director
Song 10
(1965)
Director
Fire of Waters
(1965)
Director
Three Films: Blue White/Bloodstone/Vein
(1965)
Director
15 Song Traits
(1965)
Director
Black Vision
(1965)
Director
Dog Star Man
(1965)
Director
Female Mystique and Spare Leaves (for Gordon)
(1965)
Director
Pasht
(1966)
Director
Song 16
(1966)
Director
Song 17
(1966)
Director
Song 21
(1966)
Director
Song 22
(1966)
Director
Song 19
(1966)
Director
Song 18
(1966)
Director
Song 20
(1966)
Director
Eye Myth
(1967)
Director
23rd Psalm Branch
(1967)
Director
Song 24
(1967)
Director
Song 25
(1967)
Director
For Life, Against the War
(1967)
Director
Scenes from Under Childhood, Section One
(1968)
Director
The Horseman, the Woman, and the Moth
(1968)
Director
Lovemaking
(1968)
Director
Song 26
(1968)
Director
My Mountain Song 27
(1968)
Director
Scenes from Under Childhood, Section Three
(1969)
Director
Scenes from Under Childhood, Section Two
(1969)
Director
Song 27 (Part II) Rivers
(1969)
Director
American 30's Song
(1969)
Director
Window Suite of Children's Songs
(1969)
Director
Song 29
(1969)
Director
Song 28
(1969)
Director
The Machine of Eden
(1970)
Director
The Weir-Falcon Saga
(1970)
Director
Eyes
(1970)
Director
Scenes from Under Childhood, Section Four
(1970)
Director
The Animals of Eden and After
(1970)
Director
Sexual Meditation #1: Motel
(1970)
Director
Scenes from Under Childhood
(1970)
Director
The Act of Seeing with One's Own Eyes
(1971)
Director
Deus Ex
(1971)
Director
The Peaceable Kingdom
(1971)
Director
Angels'
(1971)
Director
Door
(1971)
Director
Western History
(1971)
Director
Sexual Meditation: Room with View
(1971)
Director
Fox Fire Child Watch
(1971)
Director
The Trip to Door
(1971)
Director
The Wold Shadow
(1972)
Director
The Process
(1972)
Director
The Riddle of Lumen
(1972)
Director
Sexual Meditation: Hotel
(1972)
Director
The Shores of Phos: A Fable
(1972)
Director
Sexual Meditation: Faun's Room, Yale
(1972)
Director
Sexual Meditation: Office Suite
(1972)
Director
Eye Myth Educational
(1972)
Director
The Presence
(1972)
Director
Wecht
(1972)
Director
Sincerity I
(1973)
Director
Sexual Meditation: Open Field
(1973)
Director
Gift
(1973)
Director
The Women
(1973)
Director
The Stars Are Beautiful
(1974)
Director
The Text of Light
(1974)
Director
Star Garden
(1974)
Director
Skein
(1974)
Director
Aquarien
(1974)
Director
Clancy
(1974)
Director
Flight
(1974)
Director
Hymn to Her
(1974)
Director
“He was born, he suffered, he died.”
(1974)
Director
Dominion
(1974)
Director
Sol
(1974)
Director
Short Films 1975
(1975)
Director
Sincerity II
(1975)
Director
Short Films 1975: #9 (Forest Love Scene)
(1975)
Director
Short Films 1975: #10 (Painted Lightning)
(1975)
Director
Short Films 1975: #1 (Jane’s Memory)
(1975)
Director
Short Films 1975: #2 (Dante’s Styx)
(1975)
Director
Short Films 1975: #3 (Hollis Frampton)
(1975)
Director
Short Films 1975: #4 (Jane’s Memory)
(1975)
Director
Short Films 1975: #5 (Niagara Falls)
(1975)
Director
Short Films 1975: #6 (Stars, Chickens, Eyes, Candles)
(1975)
Director
Short Films 1975: #7 (Turning the Raccoon Loose)
(1975)
Director
Short Films 1975: #8 (Small Town Streets)
(1975)
Director
Desert
(1976)
Director
Window
(1976)
Director
Rembrandt, Etc., and Jane
(1976)
Director
Highs
(1976)
Director
Trio
(1976)
Director
Short Films 1976
(1976)
Director
The Dream, NYC, The Return, The Flower
(1976)
Director
Absence
(1976)
Director
Airs
(1976)
Director
Sketches
(1976)
Director
Gadflies
(1976)
Director
The Domain of the Moment
(1977)
Director
The Governor
(1977)
Director
Soldiers and Other Cosmic Objects
(1977)
Director
Tragoedia
(1977)
Director
Burial Path
(1978)
Director
Thot-Fal'N
(1978)
Director
Centre
(1978)
Director
Bird
(1978)
Director
Nightmare Series
(1978)
Director
Sincerity III
(1978)
Director
Sluice
(1978)
Director
Duplicity I
(1978)
Director
Purity, and After
(1978)
Director
Duplicity II
(1978)
Director
Creation
(1979)
Director
Roman Numeral: II
(1979)
Director
Roman Numeral: I
(1979)
Director
23rd Psalm Branch: Part I
(1979)
Director
Roman Numeral: III
(1979)
Director
@
(1979)
Director
Sincerity IV
(1979)
Director
Duplicity III
(1980)
Director
Roman Numeral: VI
(1980)
Director
Roman Numeral: IX
(1980)
Director
Roman Numeral: VIII
(1980)
Director
Roman Numeral: V
(1980)
Director
Roman Numeral: IV
(1980)
Director
Roman Numeral: VII
(1980)
Director
23rd Psalm Branch: Part II
(1980)
Director
Sincerity V
(1980)
Director
Other
(1980)
Director
Salome
(1980)
Director
Sincerity
(1980)
Director
4A
(1980)
Director
The Garden of Earthly Delights
(1981)
Director
Murder Psalm
(1981)
Director
Arabic Numeral Series 12
(1981)
Director
Unconscious London Strata
(1981)
Director
Arabic Numeral Series 2
(1981)
Director
Arabic Numeral Series 3
(1981)
Director
Arabic Numeral Series 1
(1981)
Director
Arabic Numeral Series 6
(1981)
Director
Arabic Numeral Series 4
(1981)
Director
Arabic Numeral Series 5
(1981)
Director
Arabic Numeral Series 9
(1981)
Director
Arabic Numeral Series 7
(1981)
Director
Arabic Numeral Series 8
(1981)
Director
Arabic Numeral Series 0 + 10
(1981)
Director
Arabic Numeral Series 13
(1981)
Director
Arabic Numeral Series 11
(1981)
Director
Made Manifest
(1981)
Director
Nodes
(1981)
Director
RR
(1981)
Director
Aftermath
(1981)
Director
Arabic Numeral Series 19
(1982)
Director
Arabic Numeral Series 18
(1982)
Director
Arabic Numeral Series 17
(1982)
Director
Arabic Numeral Series 14
(1982)
Director
Arabic Numeral Series 15
(1982)
Director
Arabic Numeral Series 16
(1982)
Director
Arabics
(1982)
Director
Hell Spit Flexion
(1983)
Director
Egyptian Series
(1984)
Director
Tortured Dust
(1984)
Director
Tortured Dust Part III
(1984)
Director
Tortured Dust Part I
(1984)
Director
Tortured Dust Part IV
(1984)
Director
Tortured Dust Part II
(1984)
Director
Jane
(1985)
Director
Night Music
(1986)
Director
The Loom
(1986)
Director
Confession
(1986)
Director
Fireloop
(1986)
Director
Dance Shadows by Danelle Helander
(1986)
Director
The Aerodyne
(1986)
Director
The Dante Quartet
(1987)
Director
Kindering
(1987)
Director
Loud Visual Noises
(1987)
Director
Faustfilm: An Opera: Part I
(1987)
Director
Faust's Other: An Idyll
(1988)
Director
I... Dreaming
(1988)
Director
Rage Net
(1988)
Director
Marilyn's Window
(1988)
Director
Faust 3: Candida Albacore
(1988)
Director
Matins
(1988)
Director
Visions in Meditation #1
(1989)
Director
Visions in Meditation #2: Mesa Verde
(1989)
Director
Babylon Series #1
(1989)
Director
Faust IV
(1989)
Director
Glaze of Cathexis
(1990)
Director
Visions in Meditation #3: Plato's Cave
(1990)
Director
Visions in Meditation #4: D.H. Lawrence
(1990)
Director
Passage Through: A Ritual
(1990)
Director
Babylon Series #2
(1990)
Director
Babylon Series #3
(1990)
Director
City Streaming
(1990)
Director
Vision of the Fire Tree
(1990)
Director
The Thatch of Night
(1990)
Director
Visions in Meditation
(1990)
Director
Delicacies of Molten Horror Synapse
(1991)
Director
A Child’s Garden and the Serious Sea
(1991)
Director
Christ Mass Sex Dance
(1991)
Director
Agnus Dei Kinder Synapse
(1991)
Director
Untitled (For Marilyn)
(1992)
Director
Crack Glass Eulogy
(1992)
Director
Interpolations I-V
(1992)
Director
Study in Color and Black and White
(1993)
Director
Stellar
(1993)
Director
Autumnal
(1993)
Director
Boulder Blues and Pearls and...
(1993)
Director
Ephemeral Solidity
(1993)
Director
Three Homerics
(1993)
Director
Tryst Haunt
(1993)
Director
The Harrowing
(1993)
Director
Blossom-Gift/Favor
(1993)
Director
Black Ice
(1994)
Director
From: First Hymn to the Night – Novalis
(1994)
Director
The Mammals of Victoria
(1994)
Director
Naughts
(1994)
Director
Elementary Phrases
(1994)
Director
Chartres Series
(1994)
Director
Cannot Exist
(1994)
Director
Cannot Not Exist
(1994)
Director
I Take These Truths
(1995)
Director
The 'b' Series
(1995)
Director
I...
(1995)
Director
In Consideration of Pompeii
(1995)
Director
We Hold These
(1995)
Director
The Lost Films
(1995)
Director
Paranoia Corridor
(1995)
Director
Earthen Aerie
(1995)
Director
Spring Cycle
(1995)
Director
Comingled Containers
(1996)
Director
Shockingly Hot
(1996)
Director
Prelude 3
(1996)
Director
Prelude 6
(1996)
Director
Prelude 11
(1996)
Director
Prelude 4
(1996)
Director
Prelude 1
(1996)
Director
Prelude 5
(1996)
Director
Prelude 13
(1996)
Director
Prelude 2
(1996)
Director
Prelude 7
(1996)
Director
Prelude 9
(1996)
Director
Prelude 10
(1996)
Director
Prelude 12
(1996)
Director
Prelude 14
(1996)
Director
Prelude 8
(1996)
Director
Prelude 15
(1996)
Director
Prelude 16
(1996)
Director
Prelude 22
(1996)
Director
Prelude 23
(1996)
Director
Prelude 24
(1996)
Director
Prelude 17
(1996)
Director
Prelude 19
(1996)
Director
Prelude 20
(1996)
Director
Prelude 21
(1996)
Director
Prelude 18
(1996)
Director
Blue Value
(1996)
Director
Sexual Saga
(1996)
Director
The Fur of Home
(1996)
Director
Through Wounded Eyes
(1996)
Director
Concrescence
(1996)
Director
Two Found Objects of Charles Boultenhouse
(1996)
Director
Beautiful Funerals
(1996)
Director
Polite Madness
(1996)
Director
The Cat of the Worm's Green Realm
(1997)
Director
Yggdrasill: Whose Roots Are Stars in the Human Mind
(1997)
Director
Self Song/Death Song
(1997)
Director
Last Hymn to the Night - Novalis
(1997)
Director
Divertimento
(1997)
Director
"..." Reel 5
(1998)
Director
"..." Reel 3
(1998)
Director
"..." Reel 1
(1998)
Director
"..." Reel 2
(1998)
Director
"..." Reel 4
(1998)
Director
The Dark Tower
(1999)
Director
Coupling
(1999)
Director
Stately Mansions Did Decree
(1999)
Director
The Birds Of Paradise
(1999)
Director
Persian #3
(1999)
Director
Persian #1
(1999)
Director
Persian #2
(1999)
Director
Persian Series #4
(1999)
Director
Persian Series #5
(1999)
Director
The Lion and the Zebra Make God's Raw Jewels
(1999)
Director
Cloud Chamber
(1999)
Director
Worm and Web Love
(1999)
Director
Moilsome Toilsome
(1999)
Director
Alternating Currents
(1999)
Director
Cricket Requiem
(1999)
Director
The Earthsong of the Cricket
(1999)
Director
The God of Day Had Gone Down Upon Him
(2000)
Director
Water for Maya
(2000)
Director
Persian Series #9
(2000)
Director
Persian Series #6
(2000)
Director
Persian Series #10
(2000)
Director
Persian Series #12
(2000)
Director
Persian Series #11
(2000)
Director
Persian Series #7
(2000)
Director
Persian Series #8
(2000)
Director
Jesus Trilogy and Coda
(2000)
Director
Dance
(2000)
Director
Lovesong
(2001)
Director
Rounds
(2001)
Director
Garden Path
(2001)
Director
Persian Series #18
(2001)
Director
Persian Series #15
(2001)
Director
Persian Series #14
(2001)
Director
Persian Series #17
(2001)
Director
Persian Series #16
(2001)
Director
Persian Series #13
(2001)
Director
Dark Night of The Soul
(2001)
Director
Occam's Thread
(2001)
Director
Micro Garden
(2001)
Director
Night Mulch
(2001)
Director
Very
(2001)
Director
Lovesong 2
(2001)
Director
Persian Series
(2001)
Director
Lovesong 3
(2001)
Director
Lovesong 4
(2001)
Director
Lovesong 5 & 6
(2001)
Director
Max
(2002)
Director
Ascension
(2002)
Director
Resurrectus Est
(2002)
Director
Panels for the Walls of Heaven
(2002)
Director
Seasons...
(2002)
Director
Song of the Mushroom
(2002)
Director
SB (One Minute for Vienna)
(2002)
Director
SB
(2002)
Director
Chinese Series
(2003)
Director
By Brakhage: An Anthology, Volume One
(2003)
Director
Stan's Window
(2003)
Director
By Brakhage: An Anthology, Volume Two
(2010)
Director
20 Little Films
(2012)
Director
Acting
The Extraordinary Child
(1954)
Flesh of Morning
(1956)
Trumpit
(1956)
The One Romantic Venture of Edward
(1956)
Cat's Cradle
(1959)
Self
Window Water Baby Moving
(1959)
Self (uncredited)
Wedlock House: An Intercourse
(1959)
Prelude: Dog Star Man
(1962)
Dog Star Man: Part I
(1963)
Dog Star Man: Part II
(1963)
Dog Star Man: Part IV
(1964)
Song 1
(1964)
Dog Star Man: Part III
(1964)
Dog Star Man
(1965)
The Art of Vision
(1965)
Man
A Visit to Stan Brakhage
(1966)
Diaries, Notes, and Sketches
(1968)
Self
Filmmakers
(1969)
Himself
Brakhage Crosses Central Park
(1969)
Self
Reality's Invisible
(1972)
Himself
The Stars Are Beautiful
(1974)
Narrator (voice)
Grand Opera: An Historical Romance
(1978)
Himself (voice)
Stan & Jane Brakhage
(1981)
Self
Tortured Dust
(1984)
Reflecting Thought: Stan Brakhage
(1985)
Self
Invocation: Maya Deren
(1986)
Himself
Doodlin': Impressions Of Len Lye
(1987)
Self
I... Dreaming
(1988)
Faust's Other: An Idyll
(1988)
Watunna
(1989)
Narrator
Joseph Cornell: Worlds in a Box
(1991)
Self
Z (Zee Not Zed)
(1993)
Abstract Cinema
(1993)
Himself
Jonas in the Desert
(1994)
Self
As Is Was
(1995)
Cannibal! The Musical
(1996)
Noon Sr.
Birth of a Nation
(1997)
Self
Stan Brakhage on Jim Davis
(1997)
Stan Brakhage on Gregory Markopoulos
(1997)
Brakhage
(1998)
Himself
I Met Stan Brakhage (At Moma, N.Y.C)
(1998)
Keepers of the Frame
(1999)
Himself
As I Was Moving Ahead Occasionally I Saw Brief Glimpses of Beauty
(2000)
Self
Looking at Forest of Bliss
(2000)
Himself
Garden Path
(2001)
In the Mirror of Maya Deren
(2002)
Himself
Vakvagany
(2002)
Himself
Stan Brakhage Exits the Cinema and Enters the Light of Day
(2002)
Himself
Keeping an Eye on Stan
(2003)
Sonic Youth: Koncertas Stan Brakhage Prisiminimui (April 12, 2003)
(2003)
Self (archive footage)
Encomium
(2003)
Self
A Visit to Stan Brakhage
(2003)
Himself
Notes on Marie Menken
(2006)
Himself (archive footage)
For Stan
(2009)
Himself
Free Radicals: A History of Experimental Film
(2011)
Himself
Please Leave a Message: Anthology Film Archives Voicemails Through the Ages
(2022)
Crew
Interim
(1952)
Cinematography
Unglassed Windows Cast a Terrible Reflection
(1953)
Cinematography
The Way to Shadow Garden
(1954)
Cinematography
Desistfilm
(1954)
Cinematography
The Extraordinary Child
(1954)
Cinematography
In Between
(1955)
Cinematography
Reflections on Black
(1955)
Cinematography
The Wonder Ring
(1955)
Cinematography
Colorado Legend
(1960)
Cinematography
Thigh Line Lyre Triangular
(1961)
Cinematography
Ballad of the Colorado Ute
(1961)
Cinematography
Blue Moses
(1962)
Cinematography
Song 5
(1964)
Cinematography
Song 1
(1964)
Cinematography
The Art of Vision
(1965)
Cinematography
The Stars Are Beautiful
(1974)
Cinematography
Thot-Fal'N
(1978)
Cinematography
23rd Psalm Branch: Part II
(1980)
Cinematography
Drawings by Billy and His Friends
(2011)
In Memory Of
Editing
Interim
(1952)
Editor
Unglassed Windows Cast a Terrible Reflection
(1953)
Editor
Desistfilm
(1954)
Editor
The Way to Shadow Garden
(1954)
Editor
The Extraordinary Child
(1954)
Editor
Reflections on Black
(1955)
Editor
In Between
(1955)
Editor
The Wonder Ring
(1955)
Editor
Window Water Baby Moving
(1959)
Editor
Colorado Legend
(1960)
Editor
Thigh Line Lyre Triangular
(1961)
Editor
Ballad of the Colorado Ute
(1961)
Editor
Mr. Tompkins Inside Himself
(1962)
Editor
Blue Moses
(1962)
Editor
Song 5
(1964)
Editor
Song 1
(1964)
Editor
The Art of Vision
(1965)
Editor
Dog Star Man
(1965)
Editor
The Act of Seeing with One's Own Eyes
(1971)
Editor
The Stars Are Beautiful
(1974)
Editor
Thot-Fal'N
(1978)
Editor
23rd Psalm Branch: Part II
(1980)
Editor
Jane
(1985)
Editor
Writing
Interim
(1952)
Writer
Unglassed Windows Cast a Terrible Reflection
(1953)
Writer
Desistfilm
(1954)
Writer
The Extraordinary Child
(1954)
Writer
The Way to Shadow Garden
(1954)
Writer
Reflections on Black
(1955)
Writer
In Between
(1955)
Writer
Mr. Tompkins Inside Himself
(1962)
Writer
Blue Moses
(1962)
Writer
Dog Star Man
(1965)
Writer
Eye Myth Educational
(1972)
Writer
The Stars Are Beautiful
(1974)
Writer
Sound
Camera
Window Water Baby Moving
(1959)
Director of Photography
Colorado Legend
(1960)
Director of Photography
Dog Star Man
(1965)
Director of Photography
Nuptiae
(1969)
Director of Photography
The Act of Seeing with One's Own Eyes
(1971)
Director of Photography
The Text of Light
(1974)
Director of Photography
Jane
(1985)
Director of Photography
Production