Meshes of the Afternoon marks the revival of independent film in America after the experiments of the 1920's and early 1930's died out during the Depression. A modest, simple film of less than 20-minutes in length, it combines elements which arise in several of Deren's later films: elements such as the use of ritualistic figures, a rich combination of interiors and exteriors, and a fluid use of the camera—including the intelligent use of subjective camera angles before they became the rage in the late 1940's in Hollywood filmmaking. (p. 8)

Meshes of the Afternoon is a fascinating and monumental short film which never fails to astound those who see it for the first time. Even today the film appears fresh and inventive, unlike most avant-garde films of the Forties. Some of the credit for the inventiveness of this film must go to [her collaborator] Alexander Hammid….

At Land...