Vertical Roll (1972): cast, story & where to watch
1972 · Film · ★ 4
Released in 1972, Vertical Roll is a notable film directed by Joan Jonas, running about 20 minutes.
What it’s about. Cast as an “electronic erotic seductress,” the multiple costumes and roles performed by Jonas critically examine the ever-changing, but consistently unequal roles of women. The camera gazes at Jonas, implicating the viewer in the work and further, with her body. Her intentional de-synchronization of the monitor's receiving and transmitting frequencies results in the on-screen image's repeated vertical descent. Creating a sense of fragmentation, the vertical roll relentlessly pounds at the images of the artist as she moves through a series of performed identities. Characterized a "disjunctive self portrait" by the Electronic Arts Intermix, the image content of the work is strongly mediated by the mirror-like function of the camera, scrutinized by the lens and subjected to violence by the vertical roll.
Who’s in it. Vertical Roll stars Joan Jonas as Organic Honey.
How it landed. With an audience score of 4.0/10, Vertical Roll has proved divisive with audiences.
Where to watch. Streaming options change often. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Vertical Roll page.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch Vertical Roll (1972)?
- Streaming, rental and purchase options for Vertical Roll change frequently. Check our where-to-watch page for the latest availability in your country.
- Is Vertical Roll worth watching?
- Vertical Roll holds an audience score of 4.0 out of 10. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in Vertical Roll?
- Vertical Roll stars Joan Jonas.
- When was Vertical Roll released?
- Vertical Roll was released in 1972, with a runtime of about 20 minutes.