Weekly Review No. 346 - Rhythm and Movement

Short Film (Full Length) – 1948

This short profiles the work of Gisa Taglicht. A pioneer of women's rhythmical gymnastics, Taglicht advocated the benefits of physical exercise for women. Risqué at the time for the women’s skimpy outfits, the Wellington-set film sees women escaping machine and washing line oppression via a YWCA hilltop session: limbs reaching and stretching towards a stark sky. The National Film Unit's post-war Weekly Reviews became less overtly patriotic, and some, like this Michael Forlong-directed one, were unabashedly experimental. The score was composed by Douglas Lilburn.

If, after a day's hard work, whether in the factory or in the home, we change to movement that loosen up our cramped limbs ...
– From the narration, on how to avoid ill effects of work