They Saw The Sun First is full of melancholy movement

Combining a stream-of-consciousness lyric memory with interpretive, modern movement, They Saw The Sun First, produced by Fresh Film, is an homage to our ancestors and elders.

As elders recall moments of their youth, describe who they were, and explain their past loves and trials, these small expressions are embodied by dancers across beaches, buildings, and in cafes. The film is soft and sharp all at once, full of raw expression and bright eyes. The dancers are given room for intuition and swagger, allowed space. In between this movement are small moments of metaphor; a young woman opens a fortune cookie only to have an unprinted slip of paper fall into her hands. 

There is something unique and magical about this film, full of texture and color. The sets add depth to the characters speaking, New York City itself providing a small backdrop in which the entire world takes place. The direction by Stefan Hunt allows the dancers to fully engage with the words and interviews. It’s strange and surreal, entrancing and candid. The music, by French Kiwi Juice, a French multi-instrumentalist composer, is light, a perfect accompaniment to this joyful film that provides a new take on documentary expression.