Burden

A grandmother with declining health wishes to be included in the lives of her daughter and granddaughter. The film explores themes of parent-child relationships, the pain of loneliness, and a general focus on family.

  • Aidan Alexander Kolokithas
    Director
  • Aidan Alexander Kolokithas
    Writer
  • Hayato Nakamura
    Producer
  • Cheryl Lyn Vanwinkle
    Key Cast
    "Marisol"
    Blood Brothers: Life Harvest, Last Days of Belle Starr, The Unbelieve-A-Bowl Schlatts
  • Tamao Suzuki
    Cinematographer
  • Noah Johnson
    Editor
  • Ervin D'onte Jeffries
    Sound Mixer
  • Project Type:
    Short, Student
  • Runtime:
    11 minutes 3 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    April 22, 2023
  • Production Budget:
    3,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    Yes - University of Central Arkansas
  • University of Central Arkansas Film Festival
    Conway, Arkansas
    United States
    May 5, 2023
    North American Premiere
Director Biography - Aidan Alexander Kolokithas

Aidan Kolokithas is a young Greek-American filmmaker from the University of Central Arkansas. At a young age, Aidan fell in love with storytelling. He would often write short stories, poems, and songs, and he would even make his younger brothers act in YouTube videos. These early days of creativity are what led him to pursue filmmaking.

Having grown up in California most of his life, he moved to Arkansas in 2019 and was introduced to a different part of American culture. He also comes from a diverse family with many different cultures, religions, and beliefs. Having been exposed to a wide range of perspectives, Aidan went into film production looking to tell stories that would appeal to people of all backgrounds.

First and foremost, his goal is to tell a good story. Aidan hopes to pursue a career in writing and directing films, honing his skills and giving audiences heartfelt works that they can appreciate and enjoy.

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Director Statement

As a child, I would roll my eyes when my parents would ask me to do things like call my grandparents or to go visit them. Even as a teen, I was preoccupied with “having fun” and doing what I wanted. Now that I am an adult, I’ve come to realize the importance of family connection. Loved ones do not remain on this earth forever; when the time comes to say goodbye, will I be happy to have known them, or will I feel regret for wasting the chances I had to cultivate a relationship in the first place?

In recent years, my grandparents have been having a very difficult time with maintaining their health. Some are no longer here. In the wake of their passing, I have started to reflect seriously on the relationships that I have with my remaining relatives. Have I been making an effort to show them that I value them, that I cherish them? The reality is, I could probably still do much better than I am, even after making some changes in recent months.

In moments of frustration– at the world, at themselves, or at others– I have heard many elders say things that have opened my eyes to how they feel. They have expressed to me the loneliness at the heart of aging. So many children and grandchildren, but so few who find time to call or visit. When someone has grown their family, only to be seemingly sidelined or ignored, it can be easy to feel as though they have been abandoned.

Of course, most people probably do not perceive themselves as unfaithful to their parents; many make an effort to take care of their parents and show them affection. However, life can get in the way, and it can be very difficult to maintain connections, even with your family. When writing Burden, I did so with the perspectives of both younger and older people in mind. The film is my message to audiences– young and old– about the importance of family. We all have our own challenges to deal with, but we should still make time for each other– including our grandparents, who often feel left out.