Losing Ground

Losing Ground is the debut and only feature-length film of African-American director Kathleen Collins, which had not been available on the big screen until 2015. The film features Sara, a philosophy professor investigating the meaning of religious ecstasy in African beliefs, whose marriage to Victor, a painter, is on the rocks. Her husband's infidelity releases Sara's sexuality and the sensual experiences ultimately lead to her cross normative lines of morality. The film purposely avoids aesthetics of realism; its avant-garde narration and form use micro stories to create an overall mosaic. The film's mise en scène, look and overall production are worthy of particular attention. The shots selected by Collins shine with masterful organization. The film opens a chapter of black women's independent cinema, and "The New Yorker" writes The movie is a nearly lost masterwork. Had it screened widely in its time, it would have marked film history.