Iris

Iris has been unable to come to terms with her mother’s death and remains so deeply in mourning that she cannot even attend the funeral. Her mother left behind a will recorded on voicemails; by listening to these messages, Iris begins to carry out small tasks each day. Over time, these recordings become not just a memento, but the only connection Iris has with her mother. From the voicemails, it becomes clear that her mother regularly bought flowers from a florist and had developed a special bond with the staff there. Her mother wanted this ritual to continue even after her death and bequeathed to Iris the task of buying “iris flowers.” As time passes, Iris transforms this task into a mourning ritual; she buys new flowers every time they wilt, and every time she listens to the messages, she keeps her mother “alive” once more. Thus, even though death has occurred, the bond does not break—it only grows stronger. However, this cycle slowly erodes the connection Iris has with life. Finally, Iris lets go of the flower; she breaks the mourning cycle she had sustained by clinging to her mother’s voice and allows herself to live with her loss.