‘Monk In Pieces’ review: Kaleidoscopic portrait of US musician Meredith Monk

Dir: Billy Shebar, David C Roberts. US/Germany/France. 2025. 94mins

“What do you even name this?” asks one educational on this documentary, referring to the exceptional musical and efficiency work of Meredith Monk which, 60 years after she started her profession, continues to defy simple classification. Quite than reply that query instantly, administrators Billy Shebar and David C Roberts current the wealthy tapestry of her music, which is steadily primarily based round hovering vocalisations that swoop and loop throughout her three-octave vary, generally sounding primal, generally futuristic and every little thing in between.

An accessible introduction for newcomers to Monk 

The administrators watch Monk work, alone and in collaboration. Additionally they garner contributions from those that admire or have labored along with her, together with Speaking Heads star David Byrne, Icelandic singer Bjork and fellow composer Philip Glass, who describes her as “uniquely gifted”.  Their greatest asset is, nevertheless, Monk herself, who permits the filmmakers to shoot her within the loft in New York’s Tribeca the place she lives and works, and opens her journals to them. Though significantly much less avant garde than the composer, the movie takes a kaleidoscopic somewhat than chronological method whereas letting her voice actually sing out over a lot of it.

Monk In Items is continuous its competition run at Thessaloniki Documentary Movie Competition after its world premiere in Berlin. Whereas there are factors at which you want the administrators would dig slightly deeper of their questioning of Monk, or linger slightly longer, followers will welcome this up-close take a look at her. Their method additionally makes it an accessible introduction for newcomers to Monk’s oeuvre and may assist it appeal to consideration past the competition circuit. 

As promised, the movie arrives in items which can be break up by intertitle playing cards, some taking their label from her work, together with ‘Juice’ and ’Gotham Lullaby’, others playfully referencing themes, equivalent to ’The place’s the rating?’. That query precedes a bit in regards to the rising consternation of organisers as she wrote her 1991 opera Atlas; paperwork learn out on display screen reveal that her want for perfection make them tear their hair out.

In addition to presenting a collage of the artist by her profession – at one level exhibiting in split-screen how she has repeated sure statements about her work down the years – the documentary additionally touches on her private relationships. Key amongst these is the tough one  she had along with her mom Audrey Marsh, a jingle singer whose work steadily took her away from dwelling. Monk additionally talks about her relationship along with her Dutch life companion, choreographer Mieke van Hoek, whose premature loss of life in 2002 on the age of 56 led Monk to put in writing the melancholic ’Impermanence’. Often these items are frustratingly fragmented, however the method does assist Roberts and Shebar cowl a number of floor.

Provided that the administrators beforehand created Trump Bites, a satirical internet sequence animated by Invoice Plympton, it’s maybe no shock that additionally they incorporate animation right here (this time created by Paul Barritt),  in sequences that emphasise the sexism Monk encountered throughout her early years. Animation can be used as an instance segments wherein Monk talks about her goals, that includes 2D characters together with her beloved tortoise Neutron. The type recollects decoupage, which is suitable because it recollects the layering that’s current in Monk’s compositions.

The 2D rendering additionally looks like a nod to the strabismus which Monk was born with, an eye fixed situation that forestalls her seeing in 3D.  In a bid to enhance her daughter’s co-ordination, Monk’s mom enrolled her in Dalcroze Eurhythmics, which teaches musical expression by motion. This connection of bodily expression with vocalisations is a big a part of what makes Monk’s work so particular. 

Talking about grief, the now 82-year-old Monk says, “You by no means have closure… and also you shouldn’t”. It’s a thought that would additionally sum up her work, which is as a lot about continuances as endings. It’s heartening to see her passing the baton – or no less than the cadences – of her music to subsequent technology performer Joanna Lynn-Jacobs, whose voice is completely different however equally as distinctive.