MOTORCYCLE MARY (Tribeca 2024) – Review by Beth Accomando
Motorcycle Mary made its debut earlier this month as part of Tribeca’s Shorts: Personal Best program. It will also be added to ESPN’s 30 for 30 Shorts catalog at a later, yet to be determined, date.
The short film marks the directorial debut of Haley Watson and serves up a portrait of Mary McGee, who was known as Motorcycle Mary. If you don’t follow sports – and perhaps even if you do – her name may not be familiar. She was the first woman to compete in road races and motocross competitions in the U.S. and became the first person — not just woman – to ever solo in the grueling Baja 500 on a motorcycle.
Motorcycle Mary opens with McGee’s aged face staring directly into the camera. Her eyes still bright and eager, and the heavy wrinkles well formed to complement her delightful smile. She describes being fearful as a child but overcoming that through the guidance of her older brother. And it is through him and his just do it mentality that set her on her journey into the world of racing. She began by racing cars, and she consistently beat out her male competitors. But she soon discovered that her true love was racing motorcycles.
McGee is the type of trailblazer I love. A woman who did not set out to blaze a trail but rather who simply followed her passions and never let anything get in her way or make her question her decisions. The film is just McGee maintaining eye contact with the audience the entire time in a tight close up and simply recounting her life through all its ups and downs. She endured sexism in the racing world, tragedy in her personal life, triumphs in her career, and even an encounter with fellow motorcycle enthusiast Steve Mc Queen.
Watson crams the film full of great archival material from personal photos to footage of McGee’s racing accomplishments. The amount of material is amazing and enriches the film immeasurably. It is one thing to hear McGee recount her racing exploits but quite another to see her on the Baja 500. Seeing the young McGee racing these motorcycles as it it were the most natural thing in the world for a young woman to do is both delightful and empowering. McGee’s effervescent enthusiasm illuminates the screen throughout and makes the 22-minute short just breeze by leaving you wanting more.
Motorcycle Mary was produced by Breakwater Studios, the company founded by two-time Oscar-winner Ben Proudfoot (The Queen of Basketball, The Last Repair Shop). ESPN’s 30 for 30 series has won Emmy and Peabody awards. Look for it in the EPSN 30 for 30 catalog. It is well worth checking out and I guarantee that it will put a smile on your face.
