SenecaFallsFilm.org
Title
The Seneca Falls Documentary Project
Description
Seneca Falls is a fresh and inspiring feature documentary directed by veteran filmmaker Louise Vance. This vibrant, contemporary film chronicles the journey of nine diverse teenage girls from the San Francisco Bay Area to the historic 150th Anniversary Celebration of the birth of the women's movement in America.
Seneca Falls breathes life and relevance into a revolution barely mentioned in history books -- the country's first women's rights convention held in Seneca Falls, New York in 1848. The film transports viewers to a joyful, empowering, week-long celebration of women's rights through the very personal lens of a struggling, multi-cultural teenage theater troupe invited to perform their original play to a national audience as the official delegation from the city of San Francisco. Under the direction of Joan Mankin, artist-in-residence at San Francisco Community School, three young girls wrote an original play for Women's History Month. After touring Bay Area schools for four years, Joan decided to attempt staging the play in Seneca Falls, New York, at the 150th anniversary of that first historic meeting. In an unforgettable rite of passage, these nine teens join tens of thousands making the pilgrimage to Seneca Falls from around the world. At the National Women's Rights Historic Park, they unearth the still-unfolding narrative of women's history, meet with Congresswomen Nancy Pelosi and Pat Schroeder, visit the National Women's History Museum, and explore Elizabeth Cady Stanton's home. Throughout the week, the girls begin to examine the role of women in society today informed by events begun one hundred and fifty years ago. The troupe's compelling journey, crossing generations, race, class and a continent, is the heart of our documentary.
"This whole thing I couldn't have gotten out of a history book. This is like the best way to get it." - April Seals, age 17
