monument

Synopsis

This singular 6-part essay film on the history of the state of Rhode Island illustrates the adage that the universal is best reached via the particular: the very local issues investigated in the film blossom into a body of insights and speculations extending far beyond the borders of any region. 'monument' weaves statues, plaques and place names together with the routine movements of everyday life. Readings from history books, monologues from a fictional tour guide, and personal home movies are paired with interviews relating to the Colonial Era, the Slave Trade, the American Revolution, the Industrial Revolution, Indigenous Cultures, the Abolitionist Movement, Organized Crime, Urban Planning, Capitalism, Baseball, Ancient Geology, and Apple Pie. Over time stories overlap and voices converge to create a dynamic, multi-layered temporal x-ray, challenging the objectification of history with the animism of storytelling.