_{Still from Erosions, featuring Lloyd Knight and Andrew Van Allen lifting Deepa Liegel
Photo: Emma Kazaryan}

Review by Rebecca M. Alvin

It’s not unusual to come across a film that blends genres or approaches, but it is not typical to see a blend of dance film with documentary. Erosions, a short film produced by Site-Specific Dances and directed by its co-artistic directors Dino Kiratzidis and Michael Spencer Phillips, marries these two cinematic approaches in a half-hour composition that looks at erosion from a variety of perspectives.

It’s pointed out in the film that erosion, from a scientific point of view, is not a bad thing, although the word is often used as a negative. It’s something that happens in nature and is neither good nor bad. It’s pointed out that erosion in one place means the opposite is happening somewhere else; likewise, preventing erosion is enabling it elsewhere. Clearly, the word can apply to more than just the coastline, and that’s where it gets a bit complicated.

The filmmakers interviewed several members of the Provincetown community, from different walks of life, and each one adds to the story by telling why and how they found their way to Provincetown, what they love about it here, and what they see as contemporary issues for the town to grapple with—different kinds of erosions.

While the dance pieces are stunningly photographed by director of photography Emma Kazaryan and performed with grace and audacious beauty, at times the documentary aspect could dig deeper than it does. When a local business owner indicates that the changes to our community, such as demographic shifts and the housing crisis, are just all part of a long history of people coming and going on the Cape, it begs for a reality-check response that never comes. On the other hand, there is certainly room for this idea that change is inevitable and natural.

Where Erosions excels is in putting viewpoints out there, arranged as 4 or 5 talking-head windows on screen all at once evoking an actual dialogue, and then giving us space to absorb the brief statements that were made as we enjoy the movements of dancers in the dunes, by the sea, or even on Commercial Street amongst the crowds. The pacing and rhythm of the documentary aspect are central, connecting it with the dance film aesthetic, uniting verbal dialogue with the kinetic one the dancers offer.

Erosion can mean change for good or for bad or for neither. It can be a natural process that is kept in balance by an ecological system, and it can also be an unwelcome and accelerated version of natural change the asks for intervention. In this short film, we are invited to explore the word and the concept. It’s a lovely start to Provincetown’s annual film festival.

Erosions will be screened as part of the Provincetown International Film Festival on Wednesday, June 10, 4:30 p.m. at Provincetown Town Hall, 260 Commercial St. For tickets and information, visit provincetownfilm.org.