Is It Still Me
Logline: An artist tries to keep her routine amidst her daughter's struggles, only to discover that she's facing an internal struggle that will change everything.
Synopsis
Fareeda, a brilliant artist in her 50s, leads a quiet, structured life painting in her vibrant, sunlit studio. Her daughter Rula, in her 20s, joins her often, bringing tea and witty comments that have become part of their comforting routine. But one day, Fareeda notices a change—Rula’s usual warmth has turned into a strange impatience, leaving Fareeda feeling unsettled. Concerned for her daughter, she suggests a trip to a remote farm, hoping a change of scenery will rekindle their bond.
At the farm, the familiarity between them briefly returns, but when it’s time to leave, Rula repeatedly delays their departure. As Rula goes to shower, Fareeda overhears her venting about someone’s worsening dementia, and a troubling realization takes hold—Rula might be speaking about her. Suddenly, Fareeda sees her art studio through the farm's corridor—how can this be? Confused and disoriented, she realizes they never left home.
Distressed, she looks around to find her paintings disturbingly altered, her once-vivid creations reduced to something she no longer recognizes. With the painful realization of her dementia setting in, Fareeda is determined to reclaim her dignity. That night, she makes a heartbreaking choice: to end her life on her own terms.
But as Fareeda fades into darkness, faint screams suggest an intervention. The next day, she is back in her studio, painting as if nothing happened. Rula lovingly brings her tea, and their comforting routine resumes. Yet, the bittersweet truth lingers: Fareeda is trapped in a loop she can no longer escape.
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Joanna AridaWriterA Sotto Voce Night
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Project Type:Short Script
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Number of Pages:15
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Language:English
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First-time Screenwriter:Yes
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Student Project:No
Joanna Arida is an aspiring filmmaker and screenwriter with a background in architecture. After gaining notable acting experience, most prominently in Netflix's AlRawabi School for Girls as Rania, Joanna developed a keen interest in the behind-the-scenes aspects of the film industry. For the past two years, she has been dedicated to studying screenwriting and filmmaking at the New York Film Academy. Alongside her studies, she has been interning in the Art Department on various short films, gaining hands-on insight into the filmmaking process.
Her acting credits include roles in series and films such as 220 Days (Shahed), Boomah (Front Row Films), All Before You (Netflix), and Laura H. (Mockingbird Productions). Joanna’s multifaceted experiences and dedication to her craft underscore her commitment to bringing unique and compelling stories to life through film.
My vision for this film is to explore the impact of dementia on both the individual and their loved ones through a deeply personal and introspective lens. Discovering that you have dementia is not only a terrifying experience of losing oneself but also a disturbing situation where even your loved ones stop treating you as you. Do you realize how scary that is? We usually dedicate years to creating a sense of ourselves and how people see us, only to have it all stripped away by an incurable disease. Dementia is a condition that strips away the very essence of who we are, yet within that struggle, there is a fight for autonomy and identity. In 'Is It Still Me,' I aim to capture the delicate and often heartbreaking moments that define this journey.