"She would no longer be divided against herself".
Rendered in hand cranked black and white, this film is a stylized and melodramatic look at the historic pathologizing of womens bodies (and hence, emotional state) by science.

Written, Directed & Photographed by Michelle Lovegrove Thomson
Music composed and performed by Michelle Lovegrove Thomson

Cast:
Hysterica - Stacy Douglas
Charcot - Alain Mercieca

Set in the Salpetrière Hospital in fin-de-siècle France, this black and white silent film re-enacts the scientific and biological essentialism imposed on womens bodies by Western scientists, particularly the famed French psychologist Charcot. It was commonly believed in that time that the uterus moved around in a womans body, causing fits and spasms. The uterus was seen as a separate entity, to be controlled and out-manoeuvred. A melodramatic and stylistic piece, this film incorporates several creative techniques - such as rotoscoping, multiple-exposures, and hand cranking the Bolex - to achieve an expressive and subjective look at an historical moment in Western history.

Screenings:
- Fruit Farm Film Festival, McMinnville, Oregon, USA; August 15, 2008
- Arts Auction For Choice, Fredericton, NB; July 16, 2008
- IMAA Conference, Newfoundland Film Co-op, St John's, NFLD; September 7-9, 2005
- faucet media arts festival, Sackville, NB; August 20, 2005
- Female Eye Film Festival, Toronto, ON; June 2005. Nominated for Best Experimental Film.
- Herland Film Festival, Calgary, AB; May 7, 2005
- Tidal Wave Film Festival, Fredericton, NB; November 7, 2004.
- Twilight Passionata Series, Aporia Records Party, The Drake Hotel, Toronto, ON; June 9, 2004
- Launch Short Film Festival, Royal Cinema, Toronto, ON; June 17 2004
- Alt Vault Short Experimental Film Festival, Cinecycle, Toronto, ON; May 27 2004 (less info)