Still from A Photographic Memory (2024), by Rachel Elizabeth Seed.
Still from A Photographic Memory (2024), by Rachel Elizabeth Seed.
A Photographic Memory (Preceded by Anyuka)
2:30 pm–5:00 pm
Directed by Rachel Elizabeth Seed (USA, 2024, 87 min.). Massachusetts premiere.
Born into a Conservative Jewish family, Sheila Turner-Seed left the safety of her home to become a daring, world-traveling journalist. She died suddenly of a brain aneurysm when her daughter Rachel was just 18 months old. Thirty years after her death, Rachel attempts to piece together a portrait of the mother she never knew. By uncovering her mother’s vast archive of photographs and pouring over more 50 hours of interviews with iconic photographers like Henri Cartier-Bresson, Gordon Parks, and Roman Vishniac, Rachel goes on a journey that explores memory, legacy, and stories left untold.
Preceded by:
Anyuka
Directed by Maya Erdelyi (USA, 2023, 20 mins.). Boston Premiere.
Interweaving Super 8 family films, hand-drawn and stop-motion animation, photographs, ephemera, and hours of audio recordings, a granddaughter takes a deep dive into the remarkable life of her indomitable grandmother Veronica, a writer, WWII refugee, and Holocaust survivor. The film celebrates the matriarch’s resilient spirit and explores intergenerational trauma, the Jewish diaspora, immigration, motherhood, and religious identity.
Stick around after the screenings for a conversation with filmmakers Rachel Elizabeth Seed and Maya Erdelyi.
Wheelchair accessible
Ticket Information
To order tickets by phone, call 1-800-440-6975 ($6 processing fee applies); to order in person, visit any MFA ticket desk.
Bag Checks
All bags are subject to inspection by Museum staff. Backpacks, large bags, all liquids including hand sanitizer and sunscreen, and outside food or drink are not permitted. Exceptions are made for medical or religious needs. All bags are strongly discouraged, and any bags larger than 11” x 15” must be checked in the Coat Room upon entry. Read our full bag check policy.