Memoria Mortalis

2000, 10 minutes; 35mm, 16mm and video; Color, Computer animation

A childhood memoir recalling impending parental loss. Using humor and haunting simplicity, Bond infuses the memoir with intelligence and grace that transforms the personal into a powerful cinematic experience—delving into the complexity of family dynamics, death and dying, and the germination and growth of the creative process. The memoir interweaves animations of seventh grade drawings with vintage TV footage, lost and found sound, and metaphoric imagery.

“. . .bittersweet and affecting autobiographical film. . .” —Shawn Levy, The Oregonian

“Memoria Mortalis can be considered a feminine and autobiographical response to Saul Bass’s ‘Why Man Creates.’ As Bond traces the trajectory of her growth as an artist (and the ways her visual sensibilities gave her an outlet for life’s deep and heartrending dramas) she gracefully moves from youthful innocence to mature perception.” —Howard Aaron, Northwest Film Center

Support:

Written & Directed: Rose Bond

Lead Animator: Rose Bond

Assistant Animator: Valerie Collins

Sound Design: Michael Gandsey

Music Cantores in Ecclasia

Accordion: Courtney Von Drehle

Voice Talent

Mary Bond Krueger

Vana O’Brien

Victoria Parker

Gwynne Warner

Michael Bakkensen

Film Photographer: Mark Eifert

Negative Cutter: Andy Pratt

Film Processing: Alpha Cine Lab

Childhood Grief Consultant: Izetta Smith

Reel to Reel Tape Recording: Gerald and Nancy Janson

Rose Bond’s Childhood Arts Conservator: Sister Mary Rosina, SNJM

FESTIVALS

Sundance 2001 - Competition Selection

Ann Arbor 2001* Honors & National Tour

Arizona Reel Frontier

Channel Islands 2001

Inside Out - Toronto, 2002

Marin County Film Festival 2001* Red Ribbon

Houston 2001 * Audience Gold Award

Image+Nation, Montreal 2001

Nashville 2001

PlanetOut Festival* Finalist 2002

Rochester Gay & Lesbian 2002

San Francisco Lesbian & Gay Film Festival 2001

FUNDING

National Endowment for the Arts

Regional Arts & Culture Council

The Collins Foundation

The National Film Board of Canada