Coming & Going

Directed by Clyde Fusei Forth (USA) 00:09:00 Short Film

Impressions of grief, life force, compassion, distress, and tenderness interweave in movement & narrative.

ALS is a neuromuscular disorder which, over time, gradually - or sometimes not so gradually - steals our movement from us. 

As John Holland’s Pilates teacher since 2005, I was able to see with him the earliest symptoms a few years later. Over the time since his diagnosis with ALS, he and I created a duet that evolved until his death.

“Coming and going” in a Buddhist context refers to the reality that all forms arise and pass without anything being gained or lost. In the narrative of this film, it also relates to my mundane comings and goings to engage in movement in two particular ways. 

Impressions of grief, life force, compassion, distress, and tenderness interweave in the movement, seen through editing and enhanced by the musical score.

John was much more than a client and supported my work as a dancer in innumerable ways. I hope this film brings attention to ALS, raises money for research, and inspires the practice of compassion, wisdom and awareness as we all inevitably come and go.