DCTV Presents Girl With Black Balloons

Corinne van der Borch | 59 min | 2011
Bettina is said to be the most beautiful woman to have ever lived in the legendary Chelsea Hotel in New York City, yet has hidden herself away in her studio for over 40 years. She sleeps on a lawn-chair and surrounds herself with boxes stacked from floor to ceiling, filled with works of her art that have never seen the light of day. These boxes hide a stunning body of work - but it's come at a huge cost. Her life as a reclusive guardian over her creativity and artwork inspires us to think about the world that we have each chosen for ourselves - how we are captive of it or freed by it. During humorous, intimate and provocative moments, first-time director Corinne van der Borch develops a delicate friendship with Bettina and gradually unveils the life of one of New York's last true eccentrics.
Winner of Doc NYC 2012 Grand Jury Prize
"Girl With Black Balloons is a beautifully conceived excavation -- part archeological, part psychological -- into the life and times of a truly authentic New York City character." - Alan Berliner
"You captured her soul." - Barbara Kopple
POST-SCREENING Q\&A:
The film's subject, artist Bettina Grossman, will be joined by award-winning filmmaker Corinne van der Borch. Corinne has worked as a researcher, writer, editor, cinematographer and producer on several non-fiction projects in Amsterdam, New York, London, Hanoi and Berlin, and established Wondertime Films in order to create ordinary magic by collecting intimate stories and visuals which can easily go unseen. She holds an Mfa from NYC's School of Visual Arts, and has worked with Albert Maysles and Alan Berliner. Girl With Black Balloons is her first feature length film.
ABOUT DCTV Presents:
DCTV Presents is DCTV's signature screening and event series that highlights innovative and provocative work from the independent filmmaking community. From screening films by emerging artists to hosting master classes led by renowned groundbreakers in the industry, each event offers the public a unique and inclusive opportunity to share, support and embrace truly independent art. All events are open to the public, and serve super cheap drinks, alcoholic \& non!
TICKETS:
$6 / DCTV Members
$8 / DocuClub, Ifp, Nywift, Shooting People Members, and students with Id
$10 / General