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