Spotlights mothers keeping their sons’ names alive
Director Sofia Drai has long had a keen sense of storytelling. As a documentary filmmaker, she has pursued projects that showcase the depth of human experiences in a raw format. Her latest film, “MAMA!,” depicts the lives of three Minnesota mothers whose worlds were flipped upside down after the loss of their sons at the hands of law enforcement.
Although they have been bereaved with grief, the film aims to spotlight the strength of these mothers in their pursuit to tell their stories and create systemic change to prevent any other mother from experiencing their pain.
Originally from Ukraine, Drai moved to California in 2013 to pursue a career in film. Upon graduating from film school in 2020, she set out to make a film titled “I Can’t Breathe” following the death of George Floyd, which led to a worldwide outcry for justice.
After arriving in Minnesota, Drai heard about the National Mothers March Against Police Violence in Minneapolis. She thought the march would be a great chance to connect with those personally impacted by police brutality.
Hundreds of families from across the nation descended on the Twin Cities to share the story of their loved ones as they marched toward the state capitol. It was through this event that Drai changed the course of her documentary and decided to focus on the experience of those left in the devastation of police killings. She soon met Amity Dimock, Katie Wright, and Del Shea Perry, all mothers in Minnesota who have lost their sons at the hands of law enforcement.
While some of the mothers may have had their stories told in the headlines, the fleeting coverage of their stories brought little respite. They welcomed the opportunity to participate in a documentary where their voices would be heard, and the story of their sons could be uplifted.
“I was really at a point where nobody knew about it,” Dimock said about the death of her son Kobie Dimock-Heisler. Dimock’s son, who was on the spectrum and suffered from mental health issues, was killed by Brooklyn Center police after they responded to a 911 call.
“The fact that anybody was willing to listen to me and tell my son’s story, much less Hollywood people, made me jump on board right away,” she said.
Drai saw the film as her way of contributing to the movement for change. Through her filmmaking, she could illuminate the stories of those who had lost loved ones and give depth to their experiences, often relegated to the evening news. She became inspired by the work of Niko Georgiades at Unicorn Riot, a locally-based nonprofit news organization that utilizes media as an activism tool.
Drai stated that she learned a sense of resilience from the mothers while working with them. She saw firsthand the challenges they faced in getting answers from police departments and city officials, who she described as stonewalling her requests for information.
Dimock stated that participating in the film allowed her to take back the narrative of her late son. “Most of us in situations like this believe that the police narrative is different or much more egregious sounding than what things were,” she said.
She stated that reports describing her son made him sound intimidating and robust. Dimock shared that Kobe was an avid video game player who loved crochet.
Wright’s son, Daunte Wright, was also killed at the hands of Brooklyn Center police. The tragedy brought her close to Dimock, who shared the same pain. The two mothers found themselves in what’s been described as the exclusive club that no one wants to join.
When Wright met Drai, she felt a sense of deep sympathy from her. She knew that she’d be able to do a great job in making a film that captured the lives of their loved ones.
“She was one of the only filmmakers that really was very emotional during this time, so I could tell her heart was in it,” Wright said.
Wright shared that she’s felt a piece of her heart missing since the death of her son. She believes that the film has given her another ability to remind those involved in her son’s death that they will not forget what they’ve done. She, Dimock, and Perry have taken on the mantle of sharing their stories and putting forth legislative efforts to prevent other mothers from losing their children.
“If we mothers don’t stand up and stop this from happening, other mothers will be in our situation,” she said. “So it’s important to tell the story, keep it alive, and make sure that people understand that our fight isn’t over until no mothers have to feel what we have to feel.”
Drai hopes the film will positively impact its viewers and draw strength from the mothers and their experiences. “I hope this film will leave a trace in the audience’s heart and teach [them] how to resist in such a gruesome life event,” she said.
“The documentary’s main characters are a great example of resisting and becoming strong warriors and fighting to get what you need.”
“MAMA!” is available for streaming on multiple platforms including Amazon, Apple TV, YouTube Movies, and DirecTV.
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