In the documentary Becoming Benjamin Lay, director Tony Buba and historian Marcus Rediker explore the life and ideas of an unknown radical Quaker dwarf abolitionist who demanded an end to slavery almost 300 years ago. At the center of the film is the prize-winning play Rediker wrote with Naomi Wallace, "The Return of Benjamin Lay". In the role of Lay, actor Mark Povinelli channels the moral outrage of this visionary in his fiery performance. The film restores a forgotten hero to modern public memory and presents the challenge to fight for a just society.

Director's Statement

As a filmmaker, I’ve always been drawn to working-class histories, voices that get left out of official narratives. In working with Marcus Rediker to tell Benjamin Lay’s story, I saw an opportunity to recover a radical figure who felt startlingly contemporary. Lay did not wait for permission to speak. He did not temper his message to make others comfortable. He embodied dissent. The film explores how Lay’s ideas were shaped by his experiences as a sailor, a shopkeeper, and a witness to human cruelty. His life forces us to consider what moral consistency looks like in our own time.

Category: Documentary, Feature, Festival Alum.
Themes: Historical, Human Rights, Social Justice.

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