A setting suspended in time, a moment of misunderstanding between mother and son, for the milk missing from the shopping bag, an evening in silence in front of the TV and suddenly the drama of mourning.
They are among the elements of Malia Obama's short film with which the 25-year-old former first daughter, daughter of Barack and Michelle Obama (who has been rumored in recent days as a possible Democratic candidate for the White House), debuted at the Sundance Film Festival.
A story between reality and fairy tale told with delicacy and intensity (it had already participated in the Telluride and Chicago festivals in autumn where it won the award for best live action short), which has as its protagonists the 40-year-old Josh (played by Tunde Adebimpe, leader of Tv on the radio, who has already shown his talent as an actor, ed.) and his mother Anita (LaTonya Borsay), with whom the man, silent and shy, lives.
The sudden disappearance of the woman, and her unexpected request in her will to keep her heart, leads Josh to convince himself that he has a second chance and face his sense of guilt when he sees a lady like his mother on the street carrying envelopes. of spending.
An encounter in which the man reveals his fragility and thanks to the unknown woman (or perhaps not) the need to forgive himself.
"It's a bizarre little story - the filmmaker, a Harvard graduate, who signs her name simply as Malia Ann, explained, introducing the short -. A fairy tale about a man's mourning for the death of his mother".
The short film "talks about lost objects and lonely people, forgiveness and remorse" and wants to discover "how there can be closeness and tenderness in these elements".
The people who made this story with me have my heart (pun intended); I am grateful to them for allowing this story to come to life, and I am grateful to Sundance for allowing us to share it with you. We hope that the film helps you feel less alone or at least helps us not to forget those people who are."
Meanwhile, Sundance (18 - 28 January), which reached its 40th edition this year, has announced the winners among the almost 60 shorts scheduled: the main prize, the Short Film Grand Jury Prize, goes to the Spanish The Masterpiece by Alex Lora Cercos, which tells of the invitation, with a hidden purpose, of a rich couple to their home, addressed to two young immigrants. Among the winners also Say Hi After You Die by Kate Jean Hollowell (Short Film Jury Award);
The Stag by An Chu (Short Film Jury Award - International Fiction);
Bob's Funeral by Jack Dunphy (Short Film Jury Award - Nonfiction);
Bug Diner by Phoebe Jane Hart (Short Film Jury Award - Animation);
Masha Ko for The Looming and Makoto Nagahisa for Pisko the Crab Child is in Love who received the Short Film Special Jury Prize for direction.
Reproduction reserved © Copyright ANSA