Janis Ian: Breaking Silence

In the mid-60s, Janis Ian, a tiny teenage Jewish singer-songwriter from New Jersey scores a hit (“Society’s Child,” 1966) about an interracial relationship. The song launches her illustrious career but also ignites controversy, and she plunges into an emotional tailspin–only to emerge from the ashes with an even bigger hit (“At Seventeen,” 1975) about body shaming. For the next six decades, Janis overcame homophobia, record industry misogyny, and a life-threatening illness to produce an indelible body of work that continues to draw large audiences around the globe.

Thursday, March 6 – 5:00 p.m. – Portland Museum of Art

Includes a special talk and Q&A with Director
Varda Bar-Kar

This program has been made possible through the kind support of Maine Advisory Associates. 

Friday, March 7 – 7:00 p.m. – Eveningstar, Brunswick

“Breaking Silence chronicles the singer’s epic life journey beginning with her Jewish childhood on a chicken farm In New Jersey, her Youthful struggle with notoriety, her ascent to fame with the Single “At Seventeen”, and her release of the disruptive album “Breaking Silence” … Unsung? Not bloody likely, and this film focuses on the extraordinary achievement of her talent, the legacy of joy that Janis Ian has created.”

-Richard Cotter, Sydney Arts Guide.

Best of Fest Top Films, Palm Springs International Film Festival 2025

Official Selection, Doc NYC, 2024

Presenting Partner

Browse This Season's Films Below

Farewell, Mr. Haffmann

Heightened Scrutiny

Holding Liat

Las Dos Mariette

Looking Up

Love, Statistically Speaking

Maintenance Artist

Mazel Tov

Proud Jewish Boy

Soda

The Sea

The Stamp Thief

We Met at Grossinger’s

Important

Once you purchase a pass you must reserve tickets for each screening on the schedule page!