A Powerful Exploration of Self Identity: No Single Track
Shanine Gallagher’s latest film, No Single Track, is a powerful exploration of her mixed identity. At The Community Newsroom, we had an exclusive screening of the film where the filmmaker shared more about her journey.
Words by Samar Jamal | Photos by Niall Morison
“I really feel like it changed my life in a way and made me think about something that I was pushing aside because it was almost painful to think about.”
That’s Shanine Gallagher, the filmmaker behind No Single Track, reflecting on her time in the Being Mixed project, which she wrote about for Greater Govanhill last year.
Founded by multi-faceted visual artist, Aph, Being Mixed began as a photography project and grew from curiosity and a need for community and connection. It brings together people with mixed identities, creating a space for them to meet, make art and share soul food that is dear to them. It was a space that propelled forward a bigger feeling for Shanine:
“The places and things we would talk about would resonate with me and it made me think about my own experiences of being mixed,” she remarked. “I'm half Scottish, half Filipino, and it's been a long time since I tapped into my Filipino side because I've not seen my mum since I was very young.”
No Single Track is a documentary of that journey. It’s a tender recollection of the spaces where those conversations took place; with her dad, brother, old friends and new, all of whom she has since formed life-long memories with.
I was invited to an exclusive screening of No Single Track at the Community Newsroom before its premiere at the Sea Change Film Festival on the Isle of Tiree in September. In the near future, there will be a private screening with all the people involved in the film.
The film is split between two worlds: the Highlands where Shanine grew up, and Glasgow, where she now lives. It begins in idyllic hills, where Shanine and her brother chat about their identities. The conversations explore the challenges of growing up mixed in a village, why it’s not always picturesque and the emotional labour involved in revisiting and being at peace with those difficult experiences.
Shanine explains that the Being Mixed project provided a space for those discoveries to bloom, not only for herself but her brother, who had initially been hesitant to be in the space: “At the end of the film my brother joins the group to help make a soundtrack for the film. I could never imagine him putting himself in that position before. It made me really happy to have people I really care about in the same room and create a memory that I'll never forget, and hopefully the people involved won't as well.”
At one point we observe an interaction between Shanine and friend Richard who, despite being older, still felt that the conversations around mixed heritage fostered a feeling of validation for him in his self-identity:
“Talking to Shanine for the film was a cathartic experience for me. Whenever I talk about my racial identity it’s usually always from the perspective of being someone who is brown. I’m extremely proud of being both brown and mixed race (Scottish and Indian) but rarely do I get a chance to chat in-depth about being of mixed heritage. Most importantly, I feel the film gave me a chance to reflect on my parents’ experiences. They divorced when I was young so it’s not like a shared experience and was rarely discussed, so as you get older you tend to focus on your own experiences rather than that of others.”
Equally, for Shanine, the exchange was affirming: “It's kind of like seeing the future or how I want to be in the future… The way he [Richard] parents his children and the way he wants them to celebrate being mixed meant a lot to me.”
No Single Track is a film about vulnerability and connection, to both yourself and the people around you and taking that leap to explore who you are. Shanine is a budding filmmaker, and by generously capturing her personal experiences she grants viewers a compassionate lens into her journey and encourages them to begin theirs.
No Single Track is only the beginning; Shanine hopes to visit the Philippines: “I think everything that I’ve done so far has led to this moment. I want to go to the Philippines and see my family that I've never met and make another documentary about doing that”.
For information on future screenings and to follow Shanine’s past and future projects follow her on Instagram @Shaninegallagherfilm