Band of Sisters

A retro look at one the largest marches for women's lives in U.S. History.
by
Joel Fendelman
2024
7 mins

Set to a psychedelic rock score, Band of Sisters follows a group of 1.15 million women and men as they march through the Streets of Washington DC for women's lives in what might possibly be the largest march in US history.

Synopsis

On April 25th, 2004, 1.15 million women marched to the nation’s capital in Washington D.C. to protect and advance abortion rights. Band of Sisters is a retro feeling snapshot of the march filmed in multiple 16mm film stocks using a 1960’s Bolex film camera. Capturing a moment that is both specific and timeless, the film illustrates with basically no dialogue, the divisiveness, passion and stagnation of a national issue that proves to be just as pivotal today as it was 20 years ago.

Director Commentary

I was living in Savannah, GA at the time finishing an undergrad in film. I was offered a chance to ride on a bus to the march the day before and decided to take a Bolex film camera with me. What was my first large scale march experience became a significant evolution in my life. Through the capturing of the many protesters on both sides of the fence, I could see equal passion around the issue. At one point in the film where two women are arguing over the fence it is hard to tell which side they are each protesting for. The idea of taking ourselves outside of the details and just witnessing people in action and the energy they are giving off within that action helped me begin to see all people in a nonjudgemental manner allowing for deeper compassion and empathy. In Band of Sisters, it is interesting to me how timeless this issue is and in some ways is even more poignant than it was 20 years.

Features and Languages

Film Features

  • Closed Captioning

Film/Audio Languages

  • English

Subtitle/Caption Languages

  • English
Opens in new window