Lizzie Borden, Regrouping at EIFF16

A powerful and rarely seen classic of feminist filmmaking, Lizzie Borden’s Regrouping (1976) returns to Edinburgh 40 years after its original premiere at Edinburgh International Film Festival. Screened here for only the fourth time ever, this is a rare chance to see Borden’s first feature film.

Regrouping explores the dynamics among the members of a women’s group. As Borden interviews people who know them, such as Joan Jonas, the group shoots ​‘artistic’ scenes of themselves – but Borden feels they aren’t fully grappling with issues of sexuality and politics. Are they a serious group – or just friends? After showing an early edit of the film to the group, its members, upset, closed ranks. Undeterred, Borden incorporates the group’s arguments into another edit, filming larger groups commenting both on the original one and on consciousness-raising groups in general.

This screening is a co-presentation by EIFF’s Black Box curator Kim Knowles and LUX Scotland.