not even for a moment do things stand still
producer, editor
15 min, digital
Visitors from across the nation gather at a sea of white flags to honor loved ones lost to COVID-19. As they mourn en masse, we witness their many expressions of loss and humanity.
In September 2021, artist Suzanne Brennan Firstenberg covered the National Mall in a blanket of white: one flag representing each life lost to COVID in the United States. Her goal was to both show the epic scale of COVID deaths in America, and to simultaneously express that behind each number was a real, living person. "not even for a moment do things stand still" provides an observational glimpse into this exhibit, dropping into intimate moments of people honoring their loved ones, and interrogating the role of mourning and closure during an unfolding tragedy.
Watch the film online on the New York Times’ Op-Docs Channel.
Screenings
March 2022: SXSW
May 2022: Mountainfilm
November 2022: AFI Fest
Awards
Special Jury Recognition for Visual Reflection - SXSW
Special Jury Mention for Historical Relevance - AFI Fest
2022 IDA Awards Shortlist
