The Passionate Pursuits of Angela Bowen

The Passionate Pursuits of Angela Bowen is a 2016 biographical documentary film by Jennifer Abod and Mary Duprey, depicting the life of Angela Bowen. Bowen grew up in Boston during the Jim Crow era, and grew up to become a classical ballerina, a noted dance teacher, a black lesbian feminist activist, a writer and a professor at Cal State Long Beach.

The Passionate Pursuits of Angela Bowen
Directed byJennifer Abod
Mary Duprey
Written byJennifer Abod
Release date
  • 2016 (2016)
Running time
73 minutes
CountryUnited States

Synopsis

The film looks into the life of Angela Bowen (1936–2018), who was a black lesbian feminist activist, a classical ballerina and renowned dance teacher, and ultimately a professor in the California State University system. Her activism was equally strong in all aspects of her life – she was as impassioned in her advocacy for the arts as she was for LGBTQI rights, which she championed as strongly as she did black women's rights.

The Passionate Pursuits follows Bowen's life from her childhood as a black girl in inner-city Boston during the Jim Crow era across the decades, until she became a legendary figure in her pursuits as a teacher, writer, feminist and activist. The film includes historic footage, photographs and interviews with key people from her past, such as her dance mentor, her dance partner, her former husband, her children, activists, and scholars. Interwoven throughout the film's narrative is the recognition of how race, class, gender and sexuality influenced her, and played into her choices and her survival strategies.

Production

Director Jennifer Abod, who is a radio personality, musician, feminist activist and journalist, first met Angela Bowen in 1979. The two became life partners, eventually marrying in 2013, after more than 30 years together.[1] Abod began making The Passionate Pursuits in 2000, at the onset of Bowen's Alzheimer's disease, in an effort to capture and share the extraordinary life of a woman whose passion and brilliance had pushed beyond the oppressive barriers of sexism and racism.[2]

In 2014, Abod launched a crowdfunding project on Indiegogo,[3] donations drive project to fund the film, fueled by orders of her film and book, The Old Women’s Project.[4]

Reception

The Passionate Pursuits of Angela Bowen met with positive reviews, and garnered several awards.

Beverly Guy-Sheftall, Professor of Women's Studies at Spelman College, wrote in a review of the film: "'Passionate Pursuits' is a compelling portrait of an important figure in the evolution of contemporary Black feminist history in the United States. The extraordinary life of Angela Bowen—dancer, writer, scholar, activist, professor—provides a window on important aspects of 20th century African American history, women's history and LGBTQ history."[5] Dee Jay Cox, in a review for CV Weekly, opined that "The Passionate Pursuits of Angela Bowen will inspire audiences to pursue their dreams with tenacity and courage."[2]

Awards
YearAwardCategoryNomineeResult
2018Some Prefer CakeViewers Choice – Best DocumentaryThe Passionate Pursuits of Angela BowenWon
Clarion AwardsTelevision Documentary Program - Local or RegionalThe Passionate Pursuits of Angela Bowen Won
Milan International Lesbian and Gay Film Festival Best Documentary The Passionate Pursuits of Angela BowenWon
The Astraea Lesbian Foundation for Justice Acey Social Justice Feminist Award Jennifer AbodWon
Black International Cinema, Berlin Best Documentary Film on the Black Experience The Passionate Pursuits of Angela Bowen Won
Cinema Systers Film Festival Best Documentary, Audience Choice Award The Passionate Pursuits of Angela BowenWon
PBS To the Contrary Film Festival Best Television Documentary Program The Passionate Pursuits of Angela BowenWon
Best US History Documentary The Passionate Pursuits of Angela BowenWon
Tampa Bay Gay & Lesbian Film Festival Jury Award (runner up) The Passionate Pursuits of Angela Bowen Nominated
Nhdocs - The New Haven Documentary Film Festival Audience Award, Best Feature Film The Passionate Pursuits of Angela BowenWon
Sky TV-laF Mix Milano Award The Passionate Pursuits of Angela BowenWon
Tampa International Gay & Lesbian Film Festival Audience Award for Best Documentary Film The Passionate Pursuits of Angela BowenWon

Festival screenings
  • London Feminist Film Festival
  • Arts & Ideas Festival
  • New Haven International Film Festival
  • The Roxbury International Film Festival
  • Outside the Frame: Radical Queer Film Festival
  • Mix Film Festival, Milan
  • North Carolina Gay/Lesbian Film Festival
  • GayLesbioco E Queer Culture
  • Green Salon Short Film Festival

See also

References
  1. Genzlinger, Neil (July 22, 2018). "Angela Bowen, Dance Teacher and Gay Activist, Is Dead at 82". The New York Times. Retrieved July 23, 2018.
  2. Cox, Dee Jay (April 7, 2016). "A Review of "The Passionate Pursuit of Angela Bowen"". Coachella Valley Weekly. Retrieved 22 May 2019.
  3. "Passionate Pursuits Fundraising". Indiegogo. Retrieved 22 May 2019.
  4. "Spring into support for The Passionate Pursuits of Angela Bowen". Profile Productions. Retrieved 22 May 2019.
  5. Morris, Asia (August 29, 2016). "Two Long Beach Indie Film Festival Screenings You Don't Want to Miss Before the Weekend". Long Beach Post. Retrieved 22 May 2019.
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