Film: Yarn

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Needlework is one of the few art forms that originated with women, argues an Icelandic crochet artist in Una Lorenzen’s quiet and lyrical documentary Yarn—and that’s why it’s rarely considered fine art. Yarn goes far in changing that perception by featuring the work of three artists and an avant-garde circus troupe who use crochet and knitting to create colorful, thought-provoking, and occasionally comic works that have garnered the attention of art critics around the world.

Between interviews, the camera lingers on gorgeous Icelandic vistas and cute woolly sheep, which evoke feelings of warmth and comfort that are somewhat at odds with what the artists are trying to achieve. Still, the film offers fascinating insight into what yarn can do in the talented hands of those determined to elevate mere craft to high art.