Justine

"Justine" is a documentary short film; a film portrait of a young woman with severe neurological disorders. Her interactions (rather than her condition) are the focus of the film, which offers new challenges for documentary practice. Developed over two years, the film aspires to give insights into Justine’s experience through the rhythms of her connections with the world. The research contribution lies in developing forms of filming and post-production based on Rughani’s method of empathic looking and listening in order to offer a portrait of Justine - a person living in a world where people often speak about her and she cannot reply.

‘Justine’ was commissioned by Project Artworks, pioneers of disability arts practice. Sustained observational directing aimed to extend the ethics of consent in documentary. Those who are unable to give consent are rarely seen except in terms of their condition. Observational filming in a non-verbal arena refines consent into notions of ‘assent’ and ‘dissent’ putting the focus on collaborators to form bridges of understanding into non-verbal communication typically by sustaining relationship and staying present to the subject’s attention even when it is hard to read.

The project was supported by Modern Art Oxford, the Paul Hamlyn Foundation, the De La Warr Pavilion and experts in transition services at East Sussex social services.

‘Justine’ premiered at the Stockholm Academy of Art (2013).

See also ‘The Art of Not Knowing’ in Anthology: Project Art Works 1997–2012. Edited by Kate Adams and Phyllida Shaw; ISBN: 0-9541014-5-6. Downloadable from: http://www.projectartworks.org/IMAGES%20%28PDFS%29%20PUBLICATIONS/Anthology.pdf

• https://www.lotusfilms.co.uk/justine/
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sppGlBq9...