November 24, 2021
Grief inspires short film winner
A film with a mental health theme has won the Letterboxd Audience Award at Ngā Whanaunga Māori Pasifika Shorts section of the New Zealand International Film Festival.
Filmmaker Maruia Jensen says Disconnected was inspired by observing how different whānau members coped – or didn’t cope – with the death of their mother in 2013.
The teacher and kapa haka tutor says the script clearly resonated with people, and she was able to get support from the Ngā Aho Whakaari Shorts programme, Rotorua Indigenous Film Festival and Like Minds, Like Minds to bring it to the screen.
The short follows Chance, a south Auckland construction worker and aspiring music producer.
‘When he’s with his friends, they have no idea that he’s suffering in silence at home. When he’s at home, he’s really mokemoke for his mum. He rings her phone every day to hear her voice. When the cellphone cuts off, he really spirals into a depressive state. It’s the catalyst for this film’.
Maruia Jensen says she has another short script ready to go and she’s working on ideas for television and a feature film.