Ma Delivers a Powerful Feminist Message with No Words

by Julia RabanEnjoy the silence!
The only words in Celia Rowlson-Hall's dance film Ma are in the final scene, when a young girl warbles "Amazing Grace." But its heavy, eerie silence is more than lack of dialogue—for much of the movie there's no music or sound besides a low hum, so even a handful of drumbeats is a welcome and exciting change of pace.
To be fair, describing Ma as a "dance film" is a bit of a stretch. Movement is central but it's also an art piece and a silent drama that embr