Swans: Where Does a Body End?

Marco Porsia's 2019 documentary covers more than thirty years of the group Swans. The band became known at the start of the eighties for concerts of extreme harshness and volume, and re-formed years after breaking up. At the centre is Michael Gira's way of working. Members of the group describe his direction; some regard it as necessary, others as coercive, and the narrative does not reconcile the contradiction. The filming was spread over a long period and the concert footage carries the film's weight. The sound design tries to convey the volume of the band on stage. Jarboe and former members describe the reasons for their departures openly. Who it's for: those who like the history of experimental rock and music documentary. Who it's not for: viewers who do not know the band; the documentary does not supply the context in detail.