Through language

Marie's Dictionary

Marie Wilcox is the last fluent speaker of the Wukchumni language. This is the story of the dictionary she created in an effort to keep her language alive.

In the progression from one generation to the next, there is the danger of losing much of the culture that came before it. Customs fade and traditions die out. In the case of Marie Wilcox — the last fluent speaker of a Native American dialect — an entire language is on the verge of becoming extinct.

Considering this is a documentary that’s about the recording of words and letters, it’s surprisingly emotional. For while Marie’s physical dictionary is the ostensible focus of the film, really this is a story about generations — about mothers and daughters. Language becomes a way to reconnect bonds between family members — a link that binds everyone together.