Where We Dwell
2015 · United States
Directed by Anderson Wright, Evan Metzold, Todd Martin
Genres: documentary, essay film, sports
Tones: contemplative, mythic
A cinematic visual poem built around a poem written and narrated by former NFL running back Arian Foster, set to imagery of athletes pushing through the trials and triumphs of their craft. Shot with 80 athletes across 15 locations in 5 states, it premiered on Snapchat Discover during the platform's launch week in 2015.
Picked by Zoe
The scouts
A branded poem about athletes isn't exactly subversive, but there's something weirdly bold about making something this sincere and mythic for *Snapchat* of all places—the platform designed to kill contemplation. Foster's verse is genuinely felt, and that's the real contraband here.
The essay-film form paired with original verse recalls a lineage of poetic documentary—Brakhage, Mendes—yet the decision to premiere on Snapchat Discover places it outside the festival tradition it otherwise honors, which reads as either prescient or naïve depending on your view of platform longevity.
The orchestration across 80 athletes and 5 states could've been visual noise, but the choice to let Foster's written voice—a *player's* voice, not a poet's, not a broadcaster's—anchor everything gives the whole assembly coherence and dignity on a platform built for disposability.
Reviews
Watching Arian Foster's poem turned into a short film gave me chills.
A very powerful short film that tells the story of what motivates athletes everywhere.