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Step Across the Border is a 1990 avant-garde documentary film on English guitarist, composer and improviser Fred Frith. It was written and directed by Nicolas Humbert and Werner Penzel and released in Germany and Switzerland. The film was screened in cinemas in North America, South America, Europe and Japan, and on television in the United States, Germany, Switzerland, Austria and France. It was also released on VHS by RecRec Music (Switzerland) in 1990, and was later released on DVD by Winter & Winter (Germany) in 2003.
Shot in black and white, the 35mm documentary was filmed between 1988 and 1990 in Japan, Italy, France, Germany, England, the United States and Switzerland, and shows Frith rehearsing, performing, giving interviews and relaxing. Other musicians featured include René Lussier, Iva Bittová, Tom Cora, Tim Hodgkinson, Bob Ostertag and John Zorn.
The film won "Best Documentary" at the European Film Awards in 1990. A companion soundtrack album, Step Across the Border was also released by RecRec Music in 1990.
Original Release
09/27/1990
US Release
02/19/1992
Cast
Name | Character |
---|
Jonas Mekas | Butterfly Wing |
Julia Judge | Koan vom Klang einer Hand |
John Spacely | Koan vom Klang einer Hand |
Tom Walker | Koan vom Klang einer Hand |
Ted Milton | Television Dancer |
Robert Frank | Old Man in Train |
Fred Frith | Self |
Iva Bittová | Self |
Eitetsu Hayashi | Self |
Arto Lindsay | Self |
Directors
Nicolas Humbert, Werner Penzel
Writers
Nicolas Humbert, Werner Penzel
Cast
Name | Character |
---|
Jonas Mekas | Butterfly Wing |
Julia Judge | Koan vom Klang einer Hand |
John Spacely | Koan vom Klang einer Hand |
Tom Walker | Koan vom Klang einer Hand |
Ted Milton | Television Dancer |
Robert Frank | Old Man in Train |
Fred Frith | Self |
Iva Bittová | Self |
Eitetsu Hayashi | Self |
Arto Lindsay | Self |
Bob Ostertag | Self |
Zeena Parkins | Self |
John Zorn | Self |
Producers
Name | Role |
---|
Nicolas Humbert | Producer |
Werner Penzel | Producer |
Res Balzli | Producer |
Bernd Michael Fincke | Producer |
Gerhard Honal | Producer |
Silvia Koller | Producer |