
Painted is a short dance film directed, written, and starring Duncan McDowall, with choreography and performance by Dorotea Saykaly. The film explores the decay of a building through dance and architecture, aiming to illustrate how a building slowly deteriorates under the forces of time, vegetation, and water. The dancer performs in a deserted space, creating a beautiful juxtaposition between the style of dancing and the decaying building. The film has received critical acclaim and was awarded Best Dance Film at the 2012 Fastnet Short Film Festival.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Director | Duncan McDowall |
| Choreographer and Performer | Dorotea Saykaly |
| Cinematography | Cristophe |
| Original Score | Simon Marcheterre |
| Genre | Dance short |
| Theme | Exploration of movement in relation to site, decay, and the transience of the physical world |
| Location | Montréal, Québec, Canada |
| Awards | Best Dance Film at the 2012 Fastnet Short Film Festival |
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What You'll Learn
- The dance film explores the human race's struggle with nature
- It features a woman, a crow, and a decaying building
- The dancer/choreographer, Dorotea Saykaly, is praised for her strong and instinctive movements
- The film showcases beautiful cinematography and an original score
- It won Best Dance Film at the 2012 Fastnet Short Film Festival

The dance film explores the human race's struggle with nature
"Painted" by Duncan McDowall is a dance film that explores the human race's struggle with nature. The film, which was awarded Best Dance Film at the 2012 Fastnet Short Film Festival, features a woman, a crow, and a decaying building as its principal characters. McDowall, the writer and director of the film, wanted to bring together dance and architecture, fascinated by the idea of decaying buildings and how they could be paired with dance to create a dynamic medium. The exploration of a building's decay is conveyed through choreography and an original score, with dancer and choreographer Dorotea Saykaly's performance serving as the centerpiece of the story.
The film seems to metaphorically depict the human condition and our relationship with the natural world. The decaying building can be seen as a reflection of the transience of physical matter, a theme that is further emphasized by the presence of vegetation and water, which slowly erode the structure. The dancer's movements within this setting can be interpreted as a representation of human resilience, strength, and the constant struggle to persevere in the face of nature's overwhelming power.
The choice to feature a crow, a creature often associated with death and the unknown, adds to the exploration of the human condition. Crows are intelligent and adaptable, and their presence in urban environments showcases their ability to thrive in changing landscapes. This can be contrasted with the human struggle to adapt to the relentless forces of nature, which are often beyond our control.
Through the juxtaposition of dance and decaying architecture, "Painted" presents a unique perspective on the human condition and our place in the natural world. It highlights the beauty and fragility of human existence, suggesting that we are in a constant state of flux, much like the decaying building, slowly melting away under the passage of time and the forces of nature.
The film's exploration of the human race's struggle with nature is a powerful commentary on the transient nature of our physical world. It invites viewers to reflect on the delicate balance between human existence and the overwhelming power of nature, leaving a lasting impression of the beauty and sadness inherent in our struggle to persevere.
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It features a woman, a crow, and a decaying building
"Painted" by Duncan McDowall is a dance short film that explores the interplay between dance and architecture, specifically the decay of a building over time. The film centres around three principal characters: a woman, a crow, and a decaying building.
The woman, portrayed by dancer and choreographer Dorotea Saykaly, serves as the central figure in the film. Her movements and performance are designed to showcase the beauty of dance within a deserted and decaying space. The contrast between the graceful choreography and the dilapidated setting creates a compelling visual narrative.
The crow, included in the film, likely symbolizes the presence of nature within the abandoned setting. It may represent the gradual reclamation of the building by nature, as vegetation and water contribute to its decay. The crow could also signify the transience of human structures in comparison to the enduring presence of nature.
The decaying building is a central element of the film, serving as both a physical setting and a metaphor for the passage of time. McDowall has expressed a long-standing fascination with decaying buildings and their visual appeal. The building's decay is not only a visual backdrop but also a theme explored through choreography and an original musical score. The film aims to illustrate how a building slowly deteriorates under the influence of time, vegetation, and water.
"Painted" is the first part of a trilogy of dance shorts by McDowall, exploring similar themes of decay and transience. The film has received critical acclaim, winning awards such as Best Dance Film at the 2012 Fastnet Short Film Festival. The film's unique combination of dance, cinematography, and exploration of site-specific themes has resonated with audiences and critics alike.
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The dancer/choreographer, Dorotea Saykaly, is praised for her strong and instinctive movements
The dancer and choreographer Dorotea Saykaly is known for her instinctive and strong movements. She is based in Copenhagen and works on various projects in Denmark, Canada, and elsewhere. Saykaly is an independent Canadian choreographer and dancer whose works have been presented internationally. Her career began in Montreal, Canada, with the Compagnie Marie Chouinard, where she danced from 2006 to 2014 and received the Gemini Award for Best Performance. She then danced at the GöteborgsOperans Danskompani from 2014 to 2019 and has since created numerous works, including Try Not To Spill, Sing to Me a Deeper Song, and DOUBLE BLINDED.
Saykaly's movement style is described as rich, sensitive, and rigorous. She was selected by Sir Wayne McGregor for La Biennale di Venezia's Danza Coll. In addition to her dance and choreography work, Saykaly has also collaborated on holographic, mixed-reality films such as Telos I, which premiered at the Festival de Cannes.
Saykaly's work in the film Painted by Duncan McDowall has been praised for its exploration of movement in relation to the site. The film features a woman, a crow, and a decaying building as its principal characters and won Best Dance Film at the 2012 Fastnet Short Film Festival. McDowall has stated that the film brought together dance and architecture, with a focus on decaying buildings. Saykaly's movement in the film is described as strong, beautiful, and instinctive, with one reviewer praising the juxtaposition of her dancing with the crow and the building's ominous presence.
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The film showcases beautiful cinematography and an original score
"Painted" by Duncan McDowall is a stunning dance short film that showcases beautiful cinematography and an original score. The film explores the decay of a building through choreography and dance, with a woman, a crow, and the building itself as the principal characters. The dancer and choreographer, Dorotea Saykaly, delivers a strong and instinctive performance that is beautifully captured by McDowall's cinematography.
McDowall, who is also the writer and director of the film, wanted to bring together dance and architecture, specifically exploring decaying buildings. He captures this theme of decay through the abandoned and decaying building that serves as the setting for the dance. The film showcases the building slowly melting away under the stress of time, vegetation, and water, with nature reclaiming the space.
The cinematography is carefully crafted to showcase the beauty of the decaying building and how it interacts with the dance. The deserted and decaying space works well with the style of dancing performed within it. The film also explores the human race's tug-of-war with nature and the transience of the physical world.
The original score, composed by Simon Marcheterre, complements the cinematography and choreography, adding to the overall impact of the film. The combination of the score, the cinematography, and the dance creates a compelling and award-winning dance short film. "Painted" received Best Dance Film at the 2012 Fastnet Short Film Festival and was also screened at Dance Camera West.
The film is the first in a trilogy of dance shorts by McDowall, exploring similar themes of decay and transience. The second part of the trilogy, "Brief Candle," has already been released, and McDowall has teased a third part, stating, "The third part is silence for now, but it's coming."
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It won Best Dance Film at the 2012 Fastnet Short Film Festival
"Painted" by Duncan McDowall won Best Dance Film at the 2012 Fastnet Short Film Festival. The film explores the movement in relation to the site, featuring a woman, a crow, and a decaying building as its principal characters. McDowall says in an interview that the film brought together his interests in dance and architecture, with a particular fascination with decaying buildings.
The Fastnet Short Film Festival is an annual festival held in Schull, West Cork, Ireland, at the end of May. The festival showcases over 200 competition shorts from various corners of the village, with screenings in unconventional locations such as the village hall, local hotel, cafes, and pubs. The festival focuses on the craft of filmmaking, providing seminars, workshops, and masterclasses for attendees. It offers a share of a cash prize fund of €45,000 for competition winners.
"Painted" stood out among the entries for its beautiful choreography, dancing, and filming. The dancer and choreographer, Dorotea Saykaly, received praise for her strong, beautiful, and instinctive movement. The film also featured an original score by Simon Marcheterre and cinematography by Christophe.
The Fastnet Film Festival is known for its warm, inclusive, and inspiring atmosphere, providing a unique ''up close and personal'' experience. The festival is well-regarded for its support of filmmakers, with attendees praising the festival organizers for their kindness and encouragement. The festival also provides a platform for networking opportunities within the film industry.
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Frequently asked questions
Painted explores the interplay between a decaying building, a woman, and a crow.
McDowall has stated that he has always been fascinated by decaying buildings and wanted to bring together dance and architecture in Painted.
Dorotea Saykaly performed and choreographed the dance in Painted.
Yes, Painted won Best Dance Film at the 2012 Fastnet Short Film Festival and was screened at Dance Camera West.











































