DIRECTOR MAUREEN GOSLING

Barbara Dane is a kindred spirit. Directing this film about her brings together my passions for music, peace, social justice, and amplifying the voices of women. THE 9 LIVES OF BARBARA DANE called on me to reach into my own vast experences in life  and filmmaking. My latest film combines musical performance, history, politics, and an unheralded woman all in one remarkable story. It was a daring creative choice to go on the road and film an 89-year-old woman with limited mobility. It meant challenging stereotypes of age-related disability; we don’t dwell on it, and we don’t ignore it. Barbara focuses on what is happening now, always drawing on her past experiences and sharing generously with those around her.  

We were able to make extensive use of Dane’s sumptuous archive, her colorful stories and contemporary performances. Evocative music and song lyrics are part of the storytelling, as are Dane’s voices speaking back and forth across the decades of her life. Other voices come in at points of narrative intersection. The film stylistically reflects Dane’s lack of pretense. The unvarnished graphic treatment is inspired by her scrapbooks and vast archival collection, thanks to Graphics Designer and Animator Sianey Montes de Oca. Mindful to avoid as much as possible the trap of hagiography, the film unfolds in a build-up of revelations about this trailblazing singer-agitator, whose conscience served her and tripped her up, rerouted her and ultimately carried her through nine decades, somehow landing on her feet.

Recent political events have energized millions of people to take to the streets in support of women’s rights, movements for Black and Brown lives, and the climate crisis. Many activists and music enthusiasts are unfamiliar with Barbara Dane, a force for change in this country who, even as a white woman in the 1950s, was boldly intersectional and so potent in her power that she was intentionally obscured from public discourse. I believe Barbara’s example will inspire people to let go of fears and doubts, find community, and get involved in social change. My goal for the film is to increase  awareness of her contributions, magnify her impact and smash stereotypes of what women have been, are, and can be as artists and social activists. It is impossible to measure the true impact of any film, as audiences respond very personally. For some, it is an experience. For others, it expands their historical view. For others, however, I truly believe the film will change their lives. I want the public to know Barbara Dane so that they may feel empowered to take action in their own way, just as she did. That change can take time, but it is worth it. And you just keep at it.