Marie Menken’s films often focus on unusual subjects. The Gravediggers of Guadix depicts the lives of ascetic monks who live in caves and dig graves for the locals; Zenscapes is an abstract film on light; and Women in Touch is a portrait of two women. Menken’s influence on American avant-garde film is second only to Maya Deren. Her talent was legendary and she was important to Andy Warhol (advising him on the use of the 16mm Bolex camera), Stan Brakhage, Jonas Mekas, and many others who drove the American avant-garde movement.
