Sleepless Nights Stories

Sleepless Nights Stories

color, sound, 114 min
"For two hours we stroll with Jonas Mekas through New York nights, through apartments, studios, backstage rooms, bars and clubs. We meet old acquaintances like Yoko Ono, Patti Smith, Carolee Schneemann, ...
Rental formats: DVD NTSC, Digi Beta PAL

Stills

About

"For two hours we stroll with Jonas Mekas through New York nights, through apartments, studios, backstage rooms, bars and clubs. We meet old acquaintances like Yoko Ono, Patti Smith, Carolee Schneemann, Marina Abramovic, friends, brothers and sisters, sons and daughters, and also many new acquaintances. The father of the diary film begins with the words 'I can't sleep.' Who hasn't been in that situation. Sleepy and yet wide awake, you find yourself in the world of those exhausted from the day's exertions. In Sleepless Nights Stories we witness (approximately) 25 tales from a thousand and one nights - remnants of films by one of the greatest avant-garde filmmakers whose life rewrote film history"–Berlinale 2011. "SLEEPLESS NIGHTS STORIES originated from my readings of the One Thousand and One Nights. But unlike the Arabian tales, my stories are all from real life, though at times they too wander into somewhere else, beyond the everyday routine reality. There are some twenty-five different stories in my movie. Their protagonists are all my good friends and I myself am an inseparable part of the stories. The storyteller of the Arabian Nights was also part of his or her tales. Some of the people in the movie you'll recognize, some not. The fact that some of them you'll recognize has no bearing on the stories: after all, we all recognize John Wayne or Annette Benning, but in their stories they are no longer the people we know. The subjects of the stories cover a wide range of emotions, geographies, personal anxieties, anecdotes. These are not very big stories, not for the Big Screen: these are all personal big stories . . . And yes, you'll also find some provocations . . . But that's me, one "me" of many. The very question "What is a story?" is a provocative question. LOCATIONS AND CAST – [INTRO] Staff of . . . Masters [STORY 1 – THE STORY OF MARINA] Marina Abramovic, Chrissie Iles [STORY 2 – THE STORY OF CAROLEE] Sebastian Mekas, Benn Northover, Carolee Schneemann [STORY 3 – THE STORY OF GREENPOINT] Ken Jacobs, Florence Jacobs [STORY 4 – THE STORY OF THE LIZARD OF LUCCA] Sebastian Mekas [STORY 5] Louise Bourgeois [STORY 6] Yoko Ono [STORY 7 – THE STORY OF DOUBT] Phong Bui, Raimond Abraham, Nathalie Provosty [STORY 8 – THE STORY OF LEFTY] Harmony Korine, Rachel Korine (Simon), Lefty Korine [STORY 9 – JEAN-JACQUES GIVES GOOD ADVICE TO HIS FRIENDS] Jean-Jacques Lebel, Hans Ulrich Obrist [STORY 10 – THE STORY OF LOUIS] Louis Garrel, Sebastian Mekas, Benn Northover [STORY 11] Sebastian Mekas, Luxemburg Guy, Pip Chodorov, Benn Northover [STORY 12] Raimond Abraham, Dodo, Violinist [STORY 13 – THE STORY OF THE TREE] Benn Northover, Sebastian Mekas, Hopi Lebel, Kristijonas Kucinskas, Tomas [STORY 14] Sebastian Mekas, Benn Northover, Pip Chodorov [STORY 15 – THE STORY OF PEEKSKILL] Dalius Naujokaitis, Audrius Naujokaitis, Jonas Lozoraitis [STORY 16 – THE STORY OF AMY, OR WHY NORMAL PEOPLE SING IN MIDDLE CLASS VOICES] Dalius Naujokaitis [STORY 17 – THE STORY OF LEE] Lee Stringer [STORY 18 – THE STORY OF ARTAUD] Jean-Jacques Label, Sebastian Mekas, Benn Northover, Hopi Lebel, Pip Chodorov [STORY 19] Patti Smith, Benn Northover [STORY 20 – THE STORY OF DIANE AND PIRANESI] Raimond Abraham, Phong Bui, Diane Lewis, Nathalie Provotsy, Pip Chodorov, Sebastian Mekas [STORY 21] Sebastian Mekas, Kristijonas Kucinskas [STORY 22] Dalius Naujokaitis [STORY 23 – FLUXUS VIOLIN] [STORY 24 – THE STORY OF THE WOODS OF MY CHILDHOOD] French Children [STORY 25] Adolfas Mekas, Oona Mekas [STORY 26] Bjork Gudmundsdottir

Films

  • Other films by this artist in our catalogue

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    Guns of the Trees
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    Narrative

    Guns of the Trees
    Jonas Mekas

    16mm, black and white, sound, 75 min
    Rental formats: 16mm, 35mm, DVD PAL
    • Psychology / Mental Health
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    Film Magazine of the Arts
    Experimental

    Film Magazine of the Arts
    Jonas Mekas

    16mm, color, sound, 20 min
    Rental format: 16mm
    • Arts / Artists
    • Personal / Diary / Journal
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    Visions of Warhol
    Documentary
    Experimental

    Visions of Warhol
    Jonas Mekas

    black and white, silent and sound, 56 min
    Rental format: DVD PAL
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    Jonas Mekas Box Set
    Documentary
    Experimental

    Jonas Mekas Box Set
    Jonas Mekas

    color and b/w, sound, 900 min
    Rental format: DVD PAL
    • Arts / Artists
    • Biography / Autobiography
    • Personal / Diary / Journal
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    Award Presentation to Andy Warhol
    Experimental

    Award Presentation to Andy Warhol
    Jonas Mekas

    16mm, black and white, sound, 12 min
    Rental format: 16mm
    • Arts / Artists
    • Comedy
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    The Brig
    Experimental

    The Brig
    Jonas Mekas

    16mm, black and white, sound, 68 min
    Rental formats: 16mm, DVD PAL
    • Political / Social Activism
    • Literarature / Theater
    • Beat Era
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    Report From Millbrook
    Experimental

    Report From Millbrook
    Jonas Mekas

    16mm, color, sound, 12 min
    Rental format: 16mm
    • Personal / Diary / Journal
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    Cassis
    Experimental

    Cassis
    Jonas Mekas

    16mm, color, sound, 4.5 min
    Rental format: 16mm
    • Landscape / Architecture
    • Personal / Diary / Journal
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    Hare Krishna
    Experimental

    Hare Krishna
    Jonas Mekas

    16mm, color, sound, 4 min
    Rental format: 16mm
    • Arts / Artists
    • Personal / Diary / Journal
    • Spiritual / Mystical
    • Beat Era
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    Notes On The Circus
    Experimental

    Notes On The Circus
    Jonas Mekas

    16mm, color, sound, 12 min
    Rental format: 16mm
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    The Italian Notebook
    Experimental

    The Italian Notebook
    Jonas Mekas

    16mm, color, silent, 14.75 min
    Rental format: 16mm
    • Personal / Diary / Journal
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    Time & Fortune Vietnam Newsreel
    Experimental

    Time & Fortune Vietnam Newsreel
    Jonas Mekas

    16mm, color, sound, 4 min
    Rental format: 16mm
    • Political / Social Activism
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    Walden: Reel 1
    Experimental

    Walden: Reel 1
    Jonas Mekas

    16mm, color, sound, 43 min
    Rental format: 16mm
    • Personal / Diary / Journal
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    Walden
    Experimental

    Walden
    Jonas Mekas

    16mm, color, sound, 180 min
    Rental format: 16mm
    • Personal / Diary / Journal
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    Walden: Reel 4
    Experimental

    Walden: Reel 4
    Jonas Mekas

    16mm, color, sound, 45 min
    Rental format: 16mm
    • Personal / Diary / Journal
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    Walden: Reel 3
    Experimental

    Walden: Reel 3
    Jonas Mekas

    16mm, color, sound, 49 min
    Rental format: 16mm
    • Personal / Diary / Journal
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    Walden: Reel 2
    Experimental

    Walden: Reel 2
    Jonas Mekas

    16mm, color, sound, 40 min
    Rental format: 16mm
    • Personal / Diary / Journal
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    Reminiscences of a Journey to Lithuania
    Experimental

    Reminiscences of a Journey to Lithuania
    Jonas Mekas

    16mm, color, sound, 82 min
    Rental formats: 16mm, Digital file
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    Lost, Lost, Lost: Reel 6
    Experimental

    Lost, Lost, Lost: Reel 6
    Jonas Mekas

    16mm, color and b/w, sound, 27 min
    Rental format: 16mm
    • Personal / Diary / Journal
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    Lost, Lost, Lost: Reel 5
    Experimental

    Lost, Lost, Lost: Reel 5
    Jonas Mekas

    16mm, color and b/w, sound, 29 min
    Rental format: 16mm
    • Personal / Diary / Journal
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    Lost, Lost, Lost: Reel 4
    Experimental

    Lost, Lost, Lost: Reel 4
    Jonas Mekas

    16mm, color and b/w, sound, 25 min
    Rental format: 16mm
    • Personal / Diary / Journal
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    Lost, Lost, Lost: Reel 2
    Experimental

    Lost, Lost, Lost: Reel 2
    Jonas Mekas

    16mm, color and b/w, sound, 30 min
    Rental format: 16mm
    • Arts / Artists
    • Personal / Diary / Journal
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    Lost, Lost, Lost
    Experimental

    Lost, Lost, Lost
    Jonas Mekas

    16mm, color and b/w, sound, 178 min
    Rental format: 16mm
    • Personal / Diary / Journal
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    Lost, Lost, Lost: Reel 1
    Experimental

    Lost, Lost, Lost: Reel 1
    Jonas Mekas

    16mm, color and b/w, sound, 32 min
    Rental format: 16mm
    • Arts / Artists
    • Personal / Diary / Journal
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    Lost, Lost, Lost: Reel 3
    Experimental

    Lost, Lost, Lost: Reel 3
    Jonas Mekas

    16mm, black and white, sound, 35 min
    Rental format: 16mm
    • Arts / Artists
    • Personal / Diary / Journal
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    In Between: 1964-68
    Experimental

    In Between: 1964-68
    Jonas Mekas

    16mm, color, sound, 52 min
    Rental format: 16mm
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    Notes For Jerome
    Experimental

    Notes For Jerome
    Jonas Mekas

    16mm, color, sound, 45 min
    Rental formats: 16mm, DVD NTSC
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    Paradise Not Yet Lost (a/k/a Oona's Third Year)
    Experimental

    Paradise Not Yet Lost (a/k/a Oona's Third Year)
    Jonas Mekas

    16mm, color, sound, 96.5 min
    Rental format: 16mm
    • Personal / Diary / Journal
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    Scenes of the Life Of Andy Warhol
    Experimental

    Scenes of the Life Of Andy Warhol
    Jonas Mekas

    16mm, color, sound, 36 min
    • Personal / Diary / Journal
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    Cup/Saucer/Two Dancers/Radio
    Experimental

    Cup/Saucer/Two Dancers/Radio
    Jonas Mekas

    16mm, color, sound, 23 min
    Rental format: 16mm
    • Dance
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    Street Songs
    Experimental

    Street Songs
    Jonas Mekas

    16mm, black and white, sound, 10.5 min
    Rental format: 16mm
    • Political / Social Activism
    • Literarature / Theater
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    He Stands in a Desert Counting the Seconds of His Life
    Experimental

    He Stands in a Desert Counting the Seconds of His Life
    Jonas Mekas

    16mm, color, sound, 150 min
    Rental format: 16mm
    • Personal / Diary / Journal
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    The Sixties Quartet
    Documentary
    Experimental

    The Sixties Quartet
    Jonas Mekas

    color, sound, 129 min
    Rental format: DVD PAL
    • Arts / Artists
    • Personal / Diary / Journal
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    Mob of Angels: Baptism
    Documentary
    Experimental

    Mob of Angels: Baptism
    Jonas Mekas

    color, sound, 61 min
    Rental format: DVD NTSC
    • Music
    • Personal / Diary / Journal
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    Zefiro Torna or Scenes From the Life of George Maciunas
    Experimental

    Zefiro Torna or Scenes From the Life of George Maciunas
    Jonas Mekas

    16mm, color, sound, 35 min
    Rental format: 16mm
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    Happy Birthday to John
    Experimental

    Happy Birthday to John
    Jonas Mekas

    color, sound, 24 min
    Rental format: 16mm
    • Arts / Artists
    • Personal / Diary / Journal
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    Imperfect 3-Image Films
    Experimental

    Imperfect 3-Image Films
    Jonas Mekas

    16mm, color, silent, 4 min
    Rental format: 16mm
    • Personal / Diary / Journal
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    Birth of a Nation
    Experimental

    Birth of a Nation
    Jonas Mekas

    color, sound, 85 min
    Rental formats: 16mm, DVD NTSC
    • Films About Film
    • Arts / Artists
    • Personal / Diary / Journal
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    Notes on the Factory
    Experimental

    Notes on the Factory
    Jonas Mekas

    color, sound, 63 min
    Rental formats: DVD NTSC, DVD PAL
    • Arts / Artists
    • Biography / Autobiography
    • Personal / Diary / Journal
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    This Side of Paradise
    Experimental

    This Side of Paradise
    Jonas Mekas

    color and b/w, sound, 35 min
    Rental format: 16mm
    • Personal / Diary / Journal
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    A Letter to Penny Arcade
    Experimental

    A Letter to Penny Arcade
    Jonas Mekas

    color, sound, 15 min
    Rental format: DVD NTSC
    • Biography / Autobiography
    • Personal / Diary / Journal
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    Diary Entry: Father and Daughter
    Experimental

    Diary Entry: Father and Daughter
    Jonas Mekas

    color, sound, 3 min
    Rental format: DVD NTSC
    • Personal / Diary / Journal
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    Williamsburg, Brooklyn
    Experimental

    Williamsburg, Brooklyn
    Jonas Mekas

    color and b/w, silent, 15 min
    Rental format: 16mm
    • Landscape / Architecture
    • Personal / Diary / Journal
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    Notes on Utopia
    Experimental

    Notes on Utopia
    Jonas Mekas

    color, sound, 55 min
    Rental format: DVD PAL
    • Biography / Autobiography
    • Personal / Diary / Journal
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    Lithuania and the Collapse of the USSR
    Documentary
    Experimental

    Lithuania and the Collapse of the USSR
    Jonas Mekas

    color, sound, 286 min
    Rental format: DVD NTSC
    • History
    • Political / Social Activism
    • Personal / Diary / Journal
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    Reminiszenzen aus Deutschland
    Documentary
    Experimental

    Reminiszenzen aus Deutschland
    Jonas Mekas

    color, sound, 22 min
    Rental format: DVD NTSC
    • History
    • Personal / Diary / Journal
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    Out-Takes from the Life of a Happy Man
    Documentary
    Experimental

    Out-Takes from the Life of a Happy Man
    Jonas Mekas

    color, sound, 68 min
    Rental format: DVD NTSC
    • Biography / Autobiography
    • Family
    • History
    • Personal / Diary / Journal