Strasbourg 1518 is a short film directed by Jonathan Glazer, inspired by a strange and deadly dancing epidemic that occurred in Strasbourg, France, in 1518. The film features over 20 dancers, including Mikhail Baryshnikov and Julie Cunningham, who were filmed in isolation due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The dancing epidemic, known as "the dancing plague," began in July 1518 when a woman began dancing wildly in the streets of Strasbourg. Over the next few weeks, hundreds of people joined her, dancing uncontrollably day and night until they collapsed from exhaustion or died. It is still not clear what caused the outbreak, but it is believed to have been a mass psychogenic illness brought on by stress and famine.
Glazer's film is a haunting and surreal depiction of the epidemic, with the dancers performing in abandoned urban spaces, wearing eerie masks, and moving in mesmerizing, repetitive patterns. The film is accompanied by an original score by musician Mica Levi, which adds to the unsettling atmosphere.
Overall, Strasbourg 1518 is a mesmerizing and thought-provoking film that explores the power of mass hysteria and the strange ways in which our bodies can betray us.