How do we move with anxiety? Drills takes an innovative, performative approach to examining the ways we handle the present and prepare for the future. Reimagining the social guidance films of the Cold War era, early Boy Scout survival skills are performed alongside workplace stress-management exercises and active shooter drills, begging the question, what future are we preparing for?

Sarah Friedland’s hybrid documentary short, a kinetic study of preparedness, features memorable cinematic choreography. From deep-breathing meditation to a flashlight signaling SOS to a procession of students lining up single file, her exploration is centered on physical movement, with a soundscape that captures the sound of the body, both at rest and in motion. Voices, paired with well-composed quiet environments, convey a sense of intimacy. Friedland uses the intersection of three different training realms to deftly draw attention to how we move in order to cope and survive.  SO

Filmmaker Q&A available

Closed Captioning available