Ciudad Mujer Ciudad (City, Woman, City), 1978

In Ciudad Mujer Ciudad Pola Weiss (1947–1990, Mexico) draws a parallel between the exploited, polluted, dry, restless city and the fertile, naked, female body. In an experimental, layered and psychedelic style, we see the image of a seductively dancing woman superimposed on the urban landscape of Mexico City. The shots are interspersed with fragments of rural areas, shown with the sounds of splashing water, birds and laughing children. A woman in the background says, “there is no water”, “water, you are not flowing”, “so many cars, I can’t breathe” and “I want to live!” Through her increasingly (sexually) free movements, she seems to want to escape the intrusion of urban life on body and nature. Finally, after a moment of catharsis she presents herself crucified as a martyr. Her tears may bring the healing fluid the city lacks.