Re-enactment (2000)
For this work Alÿs purchased a gun in Mexico City then walked through the city streets with the weapon in his hand. After eleven minutes he was arrested by the police. The following day he repeated the action, this time in cooperation with the police. By presenting a record of this dramatic action alongside footage of its reenactment, Alÿs blurs the boundaries between documentation and fiction. Questioning the concept of authenticity, this work demonstrates “how media can distort and dramatize the immediate reality of a moment,” the artist has said. Gallery label from Francis Alÿs: A Story of Deception, May 8–August 1, 2011.
Director: Francis Alÿs
Genre: Documentary
Runtime: 5 min
Release Date: August 8, 2000
Cast
- Francis Alÿs - Himself
Original Language: en
Keywords
art, contemporary art, video art
More Films by Director: Francis Alÿs
More Films in Genre: Documentary
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is Re-enactment about?
- For this work Alÿs purchased a gun in Mexico City then walked through the city streets with the weapon in his hand. After eleven minutes he was arrested by the police. The following day he repeated the action, this time in cooperation with the police. By presenting a record of this dramatic action alongside footage of its reenactment, Alÿs blurs the boundaries between documentation and fiction. Questioning the concept of authenticity, this work demonstrates “how media can distort and dramatize the immediate reality of a moment,” the artist has said. Gallery label from Francis Alÿs: A Story of Deception, May 8–August 1, 2011.
- Who directed Re-enactment?
- Re-enactment was directed by Francis Alÿs.
- Who stars in Re-enactment?
- Re-enactment stars Francis Alÿs.
- How long is Re-enactment?
- Re-enactment has a runtime of 5m (5 minutes).
- What genre is Re-enactment?
- Re-enactment is a Documentary film.