This World Is Not My Own

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1h 37m

Documentary

Animation

Biography

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6 Reviews

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Beginning with her birthday July 4, 1900, artist Nellie Mae Rowe's life spanned the 20th century. For most of her life, Nellie made art in obscurity, propelled by a force she viewed as a God-given gift. As the daughter of a sharecropper and former slave, she made art from whatever she could find. As an adult, she transformed her home into her "Playhouse," an imaginative oasis filled with vibrant drawings, handmade sculptures and dolls, and collected objects. Six years before her death, a wealthy gallerist, Judith Alexander, "discovered" and introduced her work to the art world. Over four acts, This World is Not My Own traces the lifespan of an artist who struggles to dedicate her life to art while exploring the personal and political events that shaped her singular body of work. The film mixes traditional documentary techniques with animations and scripted scenes shot in intricately detailed sets to bring her dynamic story to life.

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Erin B

A beautiful film and powerful story. A must see!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/04/24

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Petter Ringbom

Director

Marquise Stillwell

Director

Uzo Aduba

Nellie Mae Rowe

Amy Warren

Judith Alexander

Ruchi Mital

Screenwriter

Petter Ringbom

Screenwriter

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Sheri Linden

Hollywood Reporter

Fittingly playful and bold.

Mar 12, 2023

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Avi Offer

NYC Movie Guru

Captivating, refreshing, stylish and illuminating.

May 2, 2024

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Tina Kakadelis

Beyond the Cinerama Dome

It was never about fame in the traditional sense, but about cultivating community and love. That’s the answer to immortality. It’s in how you treat people, how you create, and how you nourish yourself with art.

Jul 24, 2023

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Jason Gorber

POV Magazine

Historically rich, artistically brave, and formally inventive, this work of non-fiction is as quirky as its subject.

May 15, 2023

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Louisa Moore

Screen Zealots

An unconventional, eccentric, hybrid documentary that’s as inventive as its subject.

Apr 10, 2023

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Alan French

Sunshine State Cineplex

Combining the traditional biographical documentary with experimental animation pushes This World is Not My Own to another level. Some of these elements limit its ceiling, but the film sticks with you.

Rated: 7/10

Mar 12, 2023

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Synopsis

Beginning with her birthday July 4, 1900, artist Nellie Mae Rowe's life spanned the 20th century. For most of her life, Nellie made art in obscurity, propelled by a force she viewed as a God-given gift. As the daughter of a sharecropper and former slave, she made art from whatever she could find. As an adult, she transformed her home into her "Playhouse," an imaginative oasis filled with vibrant drawings, handmade sculptures and dolls, and collected objects. Six years before her death, a wealthy gallerist, Judith Alexander, "discovered" and introduced her work to the art world. Over four acts, This World is Not My Own traces the lifespan of an artist who struggles to dedicate her life to art while exploring the personal and political events that shaped her singular body of work. The film mixes traditional documentary techniques with animations and scripted scenes shot in intricately detailed sets to bring her dynamic story to life.

Director: Petter Ringbom, Marquise Stillwell
Producer: Dream Hampton, Marquise Stillwell
Screenwriter: Ruchi Mital, Petter Ringbom
Distributor: Juno Films
Production Co: Opendox
Genre: Documentary, Animation, Biography
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): May 3, 2024, Limited
Runtime: 1h 37m