Our Long Goodbye

"Our Long Goodbye" is a poignant short film inspired by the profound impact of dementia on families including my own. My vision is to craft a cinematic experience that explores not only the connective power of music but also acceptance of loss. Through this film, we will foster empathy and admiration for the sacrifice of caregivers, leaving our audience with a profound sense of sentimentality & inspiration.
Themes
Our two most apparent themes are Family and Dementia, addressing the relation between the two. At its core, our film is about Denial vs. Acceptance as our lead Mark faces the terrible challenge of caring for his father as his career is stagnating, then facing realty when he loses his Dad. Our story’s explorations of these themes delivers a message: that even after losing a loved one to dementia, it is okay for the caregiver to live a meaningful life for themselves.
Dementia / Alzheimer's Disease
Dementia runs in my family; we’ve now lost my grandmother and my auntie (her daughter) to it, with another auntie now no longer recognizing her own siblings and my uncle is now showing early signs as well. This topic is very close to the heart for me and formed the premise of this film when the truth hit me last year: there’s a strong chance I will lose my own father to this disease as well.
Music
Our film has an original soundtrack written by Dave Chick (our composer), David Attar (our lead actor) and myself (the writer/director). We also feature a 1920’s cover of I’m Going Away Blues as a subtle connection of Charles’ (the father) and his time as a touring Blues musician. We’re extremely proud of our tracks and the emotions that they bring to our story, capped off by our finale song climax.
Structure
The film follows a linear structure interspersed with the unpredictable hallway shot moments, providing insights into Charles' condition as it improves, then worsens. The flow of our story will follow Mark's Hero's Journey, caring for his father through adversity, choosing his father over his music in a heartbreaking moment, losing his Dad, debating giving up music, which then culminates in our emotionally-charged final scene: Mark taking the stage at the open mic night.
Conclusion
"Our Long Goodbye" aims to leave a lasting emotional impact, prompting reflection on the viewer’s relationships, the passage of time, and the pursuit of dreams amidst adversity. The film seeks to inspire empathy for caregivers globally, fostering a renewed understanding of dementia & care. Anchored in character development, visual storytelling, and an original song, the film will deliver a cinematic experience that lingers nostalgically in hearts and minds.