SPEEDWELL Contemporary is pleased to present the animated adaptation of “Mary and Molly” -- a short film based on the 2016 play of the same title written by noted Penobscot Nation Tribal Elder, activist and author, Donna Loring. (27 minutes)
“The fascinating piece to this film is Molly Molasses taking Mary back in time to Bangor in the 1800's and teaching her about her Penobscot heritage. The film is about the taking of Indian Children from their homes by the State but is also about identity and if Mary will recognize her Penobscot heritage.” - Donna Loring.
Directed by Donna Loring and David Camlin with casting and dialog direction by Margo Lukens, the film features the creative work of indigenous creators and collaborators. Original artwork was created by Penobscot visual artists Shannon Sockalexis and Ann Pollard-Ranco and Mali Obomsawin‘s (Odanak Abenaki) music scores the film.
The film follows Mary, a young African-American woman living in Bangor, Maine. She finds a letter from her mother that tells of her Penobscot Indian heritage and the decision that her parents made many years ago to bring her up with only the knowledge of her African-American heritage. After opening the letter on her 21st Birthday, Mary goes to the Bangor Public Library and learns of Molly Molasses, her Penobscot Ancestor, and connects with her Penobscot ancestry for the first time. The film tackles Black and Brown issues of race, heritage, and the choosing of identity.
Donna Loring, Co-Director
Donna Loring is an elder/ former Council member of the Penobscot Indian Nation. She was the Nation’s Representative to the Maine State Legislature for twelve years. Donna authored “An Act to Require Teaching Maine Native American History and Culture in Maine’s Schools.” Governor King signed this act into law on June 14th, 2001 and it is changing the way Maine views its history. Donna hosts her own radio show, Wabanaki Windows at WERU Community Radio in Orland. In May of 2008 Donna’s book titled “In The Shadow of the Eagle A Tribal Representative in Maine” was published. In 2010 Donna wrote her first Play entitled “The Glooskape Chronicles: Creation and the Venetian Basket.”
In 2017 she was awarded an Honorary Doctorate in Humane Letters from the University of Maine Orono. In 2021 she was given the Courage is Contagious Award by the University of Maine Law School. In 2022 she was awarded an Honorary Doctorate in Humane Letters from Thomas College Waterville, Maine. In 2022 she was appointed by Wabanaki Chiefs and Governor Janet Mills to fill the first Wabanaki Permanent Seat in the University of Maine System Board of Trustees.
David Camlin, Co-Director & Editor/Animator
David Camlin is an independent filmmaker and freelance video producer/editor who is drawn to stories about the importance of human connection. His recent work includes We Are The Warriors (2023), a documentary feature about a small Maine town's decision to retire its Abenaki inspired Native American mascot that was awarded the Tourmaline Prize for best feature at the 2023 Maine International Film Festival. We Are The Warriors and accompanying learning curriculum will be available for licensing through the film's distributor, Documentary Educational Resources, by fall of 2024. Welcome to Commie High (2020), is a documentary feature about the founding and legacy of an alternative public high school in Ann Arbor, Michigan, that was broadcast nationally on PBS stations after its theatrical premiere and film festival run. El Lobo y La Paloma (2019) is a filmed flamenco inspired live performance about loss, grief, and our connection to the spiritual world. The film and accompanying materials to guide discussion and reflection on its themes is currently available in corrections facilities nationwide via the tablet based learning system Edovo, and through online and theatrical screenings.
Shannon Sockalexis, Artist and Illustrator
Shannon Sockalexis is a published illustrator and artist from the Penobscot Nation with a BFA in Studio Art from the University of Southern Maine. She is actively pursuing her MFA in Visual Development for Films and Television at the Academy of Art University in San Francisco. As an illustrator, she believes that it is important for children and adults alike to be able to see themselves represented in film, games and television and so she has made it her mission to create the media that she would have liked to see when she was younger. Her previous published works were included in “Still They Remember Me” (Penobscot Transformer Tales, vol. 1) by Carol A. Dana, Margo Lukens and Conor M. Quinn. When not illustrating or doing art, Shannon enjoys spending time with her cat, Meatball, watching documentaries and animated films, and listening to (primarily 80's) music.
Ann Pollard Ranco, Artist and Illustrator
Ann Pollard-Ranco is a citizen of the Penobscot Nation and is a writer, artist, photographer, and cultural consultant. She is currently studying the Penobscot language with Carol Dana, and her writing has appeared in Downeast Magazine. In her free time, she enjoys nature walks, playing the guitar, and cooking. She currently lives in Brooksville with her English Setter, Nellie.
MALI OBOMSAWIN, MUSICIAN
Mali Obomsawin is a citizen of the Odanak (Abenaki) First Nation. She is a musician, educator, racial justice advocate, writer, and #landback organizer. Mali plays music professionally as Mali Obomsawin (bassist, singer-songwriter, composer), and with the band Lula Wiles (Smithsonian Folkways Recordings). Her debut album Sweet Tooth (Out of Your Head Records, 2022) has garnered international acclaim, named in ‘best of the year’ lists from The Guardian, NPR, and JazzTimes upon its release. As a writer, Mali works for Sunlight Media Collective and has recently published freelance work in The Boston Globe and Smithsonian Folklife Magazine while serving as the Executive Director of the Wabanaki-led nonprofit Bomazeen Land Trust. Her additional film and television scoring includes We Are The Warriors, the hit FX series Reservation Dogs, and the award winning documentary Sugarcane which had its world premiere at Sundance Film Festival in January 2024.
Programming and Licensing
Each screening is accompanied by a post-film panel discussion with the filmmakers and creators of the film.
This project was made possible with support of grants from the Maine Community Foundation, the OAK Foundation, the Glickman Lauder Foundation and the Maine Humanities Council.