Interview: Christian Taylor on ‘The Girl Who Wore Freedom’

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CHICAGO – “The Girl Who Wore Freedom,” a documentary created by Christian Taylor, is a film that speaks not only of the celebration of France’s appreciation for the Allies liberation of the country in World War II (beginning with D-Day), but also of the dogged determination of filmmaker Taylor to finish the project and place it in into festival consideration.

The story centers on an obscure story, which would have been lost to time if not for its discovery by the filmmaker. Danielle Patrix was a little girl in 1944 during the World War II liberation of France that occurred after D-Day, and in honor of the Allied troops – but especially the U.S. soldiers – her mother made her a red, white and blue American outfit out of discarded parachutes. Her story led to another, as Taylor contrasts the French remembrance with interviews of U.S. WWII veterans who participated in the liberation.

Here is the trailer for the documentary …

The creative force behind the doc is Christian Taylor, a longtime entertainment veteran known for her voiceover work, but also as a hybrid of producer, director, casting director, coach and talent. She got her BA in Theater and Broadcasting from The Catholic University, while at the same time starting her career working in the Senate Building in their TV/Radio department, interviewing the power brokers of the era. “The Girl Who Wore Freedom” is her first film as director, co-writer and producer.

The film itself is currently on the film festival circuit, which is different in 2020, but it has already garnered Best Feature Documentary at the Central States Indie FilmFanFest, Best Original Score for Documentary (composer Jeff Kurtenacker) at the International Sound & Music Fest, as well as upcoming screenings at the Lady Filmmakers Festival, the Reykjavik Visions Film Festival and the Chagrin Documentary Film Festival.

Christian Taylor sat down for a video interview via Zoom with Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com, as they talked about the roots of “The Girl Who Wore Freedom,” and the themes surrounding the film.

In Part One, the origins of the film are discussed, as well as the arduous path towards a final cut.

In Part Two, the memories of the people who were children during WWII are observed, and how the path to creating the film has changed the filmmaker.

By PATRICK McDONALD Editor and Film Writer HollywoodChicago.com pat@hollywoodchicago.com