Private Project

La Última Memoria

Mamina, a mother suffering with Alzheimer's, is in the final stages of her life. The disease has destroyed her short term memory, a big chunk of her motor skills, and all but one final memory.

  • Felipe Carlos Barandiaran
    Director
  • Felipe Carlos Barandiaran
    Writer
  • Mireya Kilmon
    Key Cast
    "Mamina"
  • Camila Arteche
    Key Cast
    "Daniela"
  • Carla Valdes
    Key Cast
    "Mamina (Younger)"
  • Emma Henriquez
    Key Cast
    "Daniela (Younger)"
  • Carlos Arroyo
    Cinematographer
  • Sharon Vélez Figueroa
    Producer
  • Felipe Carlos Barandiaran
    Producer
  • Project Title (Original Language):
    The Final Memory
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Genres:
    Drama
  • Runtime:
    12 minutes 39 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    April 15, 2024
  • Production Budget:
    10,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    Spanish
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    2.39
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Miami Film Festival

    World Premiere
  • Chicago Latino Film Festival
  • Indy Film Festival
  • Bravemaker Film Festival
  • Subtropical Film Festival

    Best Narrative - Short
  • Hispanic Heritage Film Festival

    Audience Award - Short
Director Biography - Felipe Carlos Barandiaran

Felipe Carlos Barandiaran is a Director/Editor having worked both in the United States and Internationally. Felipe’s work is heavily influenced by his Ecuadorian & Peruvian roots, using what he learned both in South America & in the US to create a unique view in his films.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

“La Última Memoria” is heavily inspired by my grandmother Mamina’s fight with Alzheimer’s. I vividly remember watching movies and reading stories about Alzheimer’s and being extremely curious about why no one had attempted to show what it feels like to experience the disease from the perspective of the person suffering from it. While the story is influenced by Mamina’s journey,

I conducted extensive research to understand how every
case of Alzheimer’s is different, and I tried to incorporate elements of various cases into the story. During the rehearsal period, I had in-depth conversations with Mireya (Mamina, older) about the research we had come across, discussing how we could incorporate it into the performance to give the most authentic portrayal of Alzheimer’s. As the story developed and while working with Camila (Daniela, older), we shared many personal stories from friends and family about caring for someone with a terminal illness. This helped us capture the emotional impact Alzheimer’s has not only on the patient but also on the caretakers and loved ones.

The final memory of Mamina takes place outside, which is deeply inspired by my time with her in Lima, playing in the backyard with Mamina and my older sister, Alexia. Our favorite activity was catching butterflies and playing hide-and-seek in that huge backyard, showing Mamina all the little things we discovered while playing. Adding this memory to the story felt perfect, as it mirrors her final memory: trying to hold on to something precious while
it slips away from her, just as she seeks to preserve it.

This film will always be special to me because it honors her strength and resilience, and it allows me to share her story in the hope that it will have an impact on viewers, showing them the devastating reality of this disease.