If you were born in the early 80s, there’s a good chance you’re familiar with the name Mavis Beacon. Her beautiful smile graced the cover of “Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing!”, a software game used to assist middle school-aged children in becoming fluent in computer literacy. Many remember her as an icon and a symbol of excellence, with Oprah, Obama, and Wendy Williams singing her praises. But the shocking truth we come to learn in the hybrid documentary, Seeking Mavis Beacon, is that this legendary figure never actually existed.

The Woman Who Never Existed

Avid Mavis Beacon fangirl and filmmaker Jazmin Jones enlists her friend, Olivia Ross, a cyber security wunderkind and self-described “cyber doula”, to investigate the disappearance of the woman they affectionately call the “The Aunt Jemima of Technology”. Working out of a shared warehouse space in West Oakland, the young women embark on a years-long investigation to locate the most recognizable woman in technology, who had been out of the public eye for 26 years. After thorough “e-detective” work, they are stunned to discover that their beloved hero is a result of collective misremembering, better known as the Mandela Effect.

Upon further discovery, they confirm that Mavis Beacon was never a real person. Three middle-aged white men created the character, and the woman behind the facade is a Caribbean-born former high fashion model named Renee L’esperance. This bombshell throws Jazmin and Olivia for a loop, and they quickly pivot their search toward Renee. Who was she? Where is she now? And most importantly, does she want to be found?

Watch the Seeking Mavis Beacon trailer here.

Does the Right to Privacy Exist in the Digital Age?

Seeking Mavis Beacon starts as an engaging investigative documentary but slowly morphs into a cultural examination of ethical journalism, digital privacy, and the right to have one’s story told on one’s own terms. Renee L’esperance never makes an appearance in the documentary, which is a disappointing conclusion for audiences and I’m sure even more so for the filmmaker. However, her unwillingness to participate in the film and protect her privacy serves as a fitting reminder that you can’t always control the narrative.

Another perspective that Seeking Mavis Beacon takes is the cultural impact Mavis Beacon continues to have in the tech world today. Her creation predates Apple’s Siri and Amazon’s Alexa, leading us to question why all tech caregivers seem to be female. Further still, the film questions why Mavis was written as a Black woman. Was it an effort to address cultural inclusion, or was it the result of the coded gaze? It’s an important observation, especially given the fact that most coders and programmers continue to be white men.

Takeaway

It’s obvious that Seeking Mavis Beacon is a passion project through and through. Jazmin and Olivia are insightful and personable protagonists. Their side quests are charming, even if they don’t always serve the plot. At times, however, the film feels slightly off-balance. It tends to overcompensate with a focus on the women’s personal lives as much as on their mission to find Mavis. Perhaps they felt the need to pad the film with these unrelated moments to make up for not being able to include Renee. While this isn’t distracting, the edit could have been a little tighter and the runtime cut by at least 10 minutes.

Jazmin and Olivia have accomplished their mission. They located Mavis but Mavis didn’t want to be found. While not quite the Hollywood ending, Seeking Mavis Beacon is a fascinating journey and conversation starter about privacy in the digital age.