“The Rhythms of Rage: from Solitude to Solidarity,” a recent video essay by Barbara Zecchi, professor and director of the Interdepartmental Program in Film Studies, has been named the best video essay of the year by the Sight and Sound Polls of the British Film Institute.

The video essay, which led the poll with nine nominations, will be screened at the Museum of the Moving Image in Queens, N.Y., on Jan. 4 at 5:30 p.m. as part of the “Expanded Screens: The New Avant-Garde” event.

“An essayist regularly featured in the poll, Zecchi’s grasp of the role of sound in editing is unmatched, and this exploration of women’s rage onscreen is a stellar example,” Sight and Sound Poll’s editors wrote in their introductory statement. “Featuring over 500 clips, and often repeating them to create rhythm as they replay in a constantly shifting splitscreen, the end result is a 'visually arresting and sonically bold' (Cormac Donnelly) collage of anger that leaves a lasting impression.”

“‘The Rhythms of Rage’ is one of the most sensually striking video essays of the year, with brilliantly executed technique,” film critic Tomas Genevičius wrote. “A mosaic of sound and visual loops, weaving a videographic tapestry on the representation of women’s anger in cinema.” 

Film Historian Ritika Kaushik added that “it is amazing how the video is able to show an arc from soft rage to thumping violent rage and possibilities of mobilisation within its short running time.”

“The Rhythms of Rage: from Solitude to Solidarity” is available for viewing on Vimeo. More information on the poll’s best video essays of 2024 can be found on the British Film Institute website.