Martyred Mom Cracks Her Shackles!

Martyred Mom Cracks Her Shackles!  arose out of deep frustration over the seeming impossibility of reconciling motherhood and self-fulfillment.  Made in 2005, the video tells the story of a devoted mother’s tortured journey from martyrdom and guilt to freedom and possibility.  It is an amalgam of documentary, performance art, and odd experimental technique (because the mother didn't know what she was doing).  The music, by Marty Beller of They Might be Giants, makes it an energizing experience.

The original 54 minute cut, Martyred Moms:  The Price of Sacrifice, played to a packed and appreciative house in Nyack, NY, was chosen as a NewFilmmakers Feature at Anthology Film Archives in New York City, and screened at the Motherlode Conference of the Association for Research on Mothering (ARM) in Toronto.   The 35-minute version has been shown at Mammapalooza, as well as numerous Crack Your Shackles Workshops (discussion, liberation, and support) in the NYC area. The UnMartyred Website and Campaign attracted countless mothers, and may have influenced their lives in mysterious ways.

While I stand by the principles proposed in the video, I now realize that it was all a bit too much putting myself out there.   For one thing, one should have one's hair professionally done before improvising a trailer with one's daughter.   Oy.