Jay Craven’s newest film, “Lost Nation,” is a Revolutionary War era action drama set in the early upstart Republic of Vermont. The film stars Irish actor Kevin Ryan (“Copper,” Harry Wild”) as Vermont founding father and rebel schemer, Ethan Allen, who leads resistance to Yorker land claims, launches an ill-fated attack on British forces in Montreal, and leads invasions by his Green Mountain Boys into New York strongholds of Guilford and Brattleboro.
“Lost Nation’s” parallel story features Kenyan actress Eva Ndachi (“Beautifully Broken”) as Lucy Terry Prince, whose poem, “Bars Fight,” about the 1746 Deerfield Massacre, is the first known work of African American literature. Terry settled with her family on a Guilford, Vermont homestead carved out of the forest by her husband, formerly enslaved farmer, and frontier transport operator, Abijah Prince. Prince antagonist, aspiring Guilford politician John Noyes, is played by Rob Campbell (“The Crucible,” “Ethan Frome,” “The Unforgiven”).
Like Ethan Allen, the Princes found themselves caught up in turbulent times and a prospect for land and liberty sought through the American Revolution. Like Allen, Lucy Prince also upset the status quo in her use of early Vermont’s legal and political systems to persevere through the sometimes-difficult experiences of her family. Ethan Allen’s invasion of Guilford seized control of Guilford’s Packers Corner Tavern, less than a mile from the Prince Homestead.
“Lost Nation” was filmed on more than 3 dozen Vermont and Massachusetts locations – and includes battle scenes, dozens of locations and 43 speaking parts – on an indie film budget. Characters range from Ira Allen and Thomas Chittenden to George Washington and Alexander Hamilton. One fun fact: Boston patriot Samuel Adams is played by his direct descendent, Samuel Adams.
“Lost Nation” is Craven’s 10th feature film. His work has shown at Sundance, Lincoln Center, The Smithsonian and more than 500 cities and towns across the U.S. – and in 53 countries. He is the recipient of the 1998 Vermont Governor’s Award for Excellence in the Arts, the 2023 Herb Lockwood Prize, four regional Emmys, the Producers Guild of America’s NOVA Award, National Endowment for the Arts’ American Masterpieces recognition, and others.
The film was produced through Kingdom County Productions’ Semester Cinema program where 30 professionals mentor and collaborate with 45 students from 10 colleges, to make an ambitious feature film for national release. The film was co-produced by Upper Valley Vermont resident Elena Greenlee and co-stars Vermont actors Rusty DeWees and Ariel Zevon. Waterford filmmaker Patrick Kennedy edited the film.
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