Experiencing Interruptions?

Before Us

As a direct result of the 'free love' era, 1970 was the peak year for adoption in the United States. Filmmaker Hedia Maron delves into her hippie mother's enigmatic past, unearthing a hidden family legacy.

When she was 19, Linda Goldfine left her family's home one morning, went to her job at Filene’s Basement in downtown Boston, and then disappeared for the next three years. Forty years later, her filmmaker daughter Hedia pushes her to reveal what happened during those lost years spent living on communes in California. Linda reveals a complex family history set against the backdrop of a time with virtually no reproductive rights for women. 

Through present-day footage of California, family footage from the 1990s, and historical clips, "Before Us" shows us that you can run away from home but you can never truly escape your family. 

  • Hedia Maron
    Director
  • Stephanie Markowitz
    Producer
  • Joseph Shabason
    Composer
  • Project Type:
    Documentary
  • Runtime:
    1 hour 21 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    January 1, 2023
  • Production Budget:
    90,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital, HI8, Mini-DV
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • SF DocFest
    San Francisco
    United States
    June 4, 2023
    World Premiere
    Official Selection
  • California Capital International Documentary Film Festival
    Sacramento
    United States
    September 23, 2023
    Official Selection
Distribution Information
  • CFMDC (non-exclusive)
    Distributor
    Country: Canada
Director Biography - Hedia Maron

Hedia Maron's short films have screened at Sundance Film Festival, Berlin International Film Festival, Documenta, SXSW, Outfest, New Museum, Anthology Film Archives, The Jewish Museum, Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, Tensta konstahll, and Queens Museum.

"Before Us" is Maron's first feature-length documentary.

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