Way of the Morris

Way of the Morris (Plester/Curry 2011) is a documentary that I have been heavily influenced by. It is a film that is in some parts falls into the poetic mode. I feel that this is instrumental in how it portrays what Morris means to the people who do it, what it means to the English culture and what Morris actually is. The opening I think is very clever. The animation and poem are beautiful and i think set the tone well for the film. The idea that the world was 'danced into being' I think sets the president for how important the dancing is to the people in the film. Also I think that it sets the tone of slight mysticism which surrounds the idea of Morris in the film. It is pointed out that no one knows where it came from and the filmic qualities reflect something that is steeped in mysticism. The shots of the country side with which the dancing is associated. The foggy morning landscapes give the film a magical, almost spiritual quality which I think is a metaphor for what Morris is. It is a deep rooted tradition that means so much to the people that do it. I think that it is magical and spiritual and the film portrays that in a way that makes the audience realize how special this custom is. Another thing the film does well is present those dancers in light which is not mocking. So many times has the tradition been ridiculed and here it is presented in a serious manner by someone who knows and understands the tradition. This is important to the film as it could have so easily turned into a comedy about silly old men dancing with hankies. Instead it a serous piece of cinema. One sequence that always sticks with me in terms of the poetic is where a shot of a stick clashing dance is overplayed with the sound of the New Zealand Hakka. To me as a viewer this shows what Morris really is. By using the commonly understood mouri custom and attaching it to Morris it shows that the dance is an important part of English tradition and it is in fact an ancient custom that should be upheld. I think it describes what Morris is better than words ever could. The film is more however more about an individual team and I think although it is telling a strong and compelling story it is not a fair representation of Morris in the modern world. There is no representation of other styles and it is a 'ring side' that is portrayed in the film. The Morris ring is a group who although do a lot of work to maintain the tradition are not keen on women in certain Morris traditions such as Cotswold which is what the film represents. This is something I want the film we make to show, how Morris has needed to change and how it has done in order to survive. However want it to have a positive feel, showing that Morris is alive and well. I want to break away from the stereotypes which still seem so prevalent in society. Morris I feel needs to be represented as an inclusive and thriving community that is varied and exciting. Above all I want to represent the broader spectrum of English traditional dance which although I love Way of the Morris is something it does fall down in. Saying this however I believe it's mission statement was not to show the whole Morris world but to tell the story of a team. It succeeds in this and is a heartfelt and well informed piece but it does fall into the old stereotypes of Morris Dancing in places.