Podtalk: Christian Taylor on ‘The Girl Who Wore Freedom' for D-Day 80th Thru June 9, 2024

Submitted by PatrickMcD on June 1, 2024 - 8:10am

CHICAGO – “The Girl Who Wore Freedom,” a documentary created by filmmaker 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 remembrance that this vital story evokes every June 6th, as in 2024 with the D-Day 80th Anniversary. The documentary will be on 300 screens across the U.S. from now through June 9th. Chicago area screenings are through Classic Cinemas (see end of article below). For a complete map of all U.S. screenings, click TheGirlWhoWoreFreedom.com.

The genesis of the documentary 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.

Dani Patrix Boucherie in the 1940s, ‘The Girl Who Wore Freedom’
Photo credit: Virgil Films

The creative force behind the doc is Christian Taylor, who lives in the Chicago area, and is 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.

In Part One of a Podtalk with Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com, filmmaker Christian Taylor talks origins and themes in “The Girl Who Wore Freedom” …

In Part Two, the war inside France and the filmmaker’s passion to bring the documentary to completion …

Trailer, “The Girl Who Wore Freedom” …

“The Girl Who Wore Freedom” commemorates the 80th Anniversary of D-Day with special screenings throughout the U.S. through June 9th, 2024, including Chicago and Illinois area screenings at Classic Cinemas Oak Park, Carpentersville, St. Charles, Oswego and Kankakee. Click ClassicCinemas.com for theaters and showtimes. For more information about the film, click TheGirlWhoWoreFreedom.com.