SummaryThe most recognizable woman in technology lives in our collective imagination. Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing taught millions globally, but the software’s Haitian-born cover model vanished decades ago. Two DIY detectives search for the model while posing questions about identity and artificial intelligence.
Directed By:Jazmin Jones
Written By:Jazmin Jones
Seeking Mavis Beacon
Metascore
Generally Favorable
71
User score
Mixed or Average
6.0
My Score
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Metascore
Generally Favorable
71% Positive
10 Reviews
10 Reviews
29% Mixed
4 Reviews
4 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
Sep 7, 2024
90
There are some cringeworthy moments watching the pair win at detective work while losing as vulnerable fangirls. But like any soulful quest worth its salt, Seeking Mavis Beacon makes the lows as meaningful as the highs, endorsing a wild web world in which mystery and exposure can peacefully coexist.
Jan 31, 2024
83
While the filmmaker is very much the protagonist of this story, the personal touches included don’t overwhelm the story — and in fact add a certain sweetness, especially as both women face setbacks in their quest, and their friendship grows deeper.
Sep 12, 2024
78
Seeking Mavis Beacon is a dizzying product of our digital age. In its look and energy, which uses a desktop screen as an aesthetic and organizational device, the zigzagging film can have the feel of too many browser tabs open, emblematic of its wide-ranging but sometimes under-explored topics of interest.
Feb 2, 2024
75
Seeking Mavis Beacon is one of the most interesting and thoughtful docs you’ll likely see all year. It also feels a bit scattershot and unfocused at times. However, the experience of watching Jones and Ross grow and change as artists and people throughout the investigation is worth the price of admission alone.
Aug 29, 2024
70
Seeking Mavis Beacon still goes down smoothly, at least until its conclusion; while other films tie up too neatly, this one could use a bow at all. It helps that Jones and Ross are clever and likable guides.
Feb 7, 2024
60
There’s a lot to like about Seeking Mavis Beacon, and the documentary is at its best when it feels like a celebration and tribute to the technology and its elusive cover model. Overwhelming and chaotic editing choices, however, detract from its overall impact, and what makes the film authentic and special threatens to get drowned out.
Jan 31, 2024
42
Seeking Mavis Beacon quickly becomes less about what this software and its spokeswoman represent, more about what Jones and Ross are thinking or doing at any given time––even if it distracts from the film’s mission.
User score
Mixed or Average
67% Positive
4 Ratings
4 Ratings
0% Mixed
0 Ratings
0 Ratings
33% Negative
2 Ratings
2 Ratings
Jan 6, 2025
1
In the 102 minutes of this doc, roughly 10 total minutes are relevant to the actual plot line. The rest is nonsensical filler and irrelevant tangents. A giant waste of time. Worth watching only if you have a dedicated 30 second skip button on your remote. You can get the meat of this doc in about 10 minutes... but there's literally no conclusion or any information you can't already get from Wikipedia.
Production Company:
- BelleMoon Productions
- Cinereach
- Field of Vision (II)
- Neon
Release Date:Aug 30, 2024
Duration:1 h 42 m
Rating:R
Awards
International Documentary Association
• 2 Nominations
Black Reel Awards
• 2 Nominations
San Francisco International Film Festival
• 1 Win & 1 Nomination
