Memory of Water

In present day Toronto, REMI (25), a young woman who has moved back with her father, ADAM, navigates the boundary between dreams and reality as she struggles to cope with the death of her partner AIDEN. She wants to share her memories but Adam pushes her to move on. In an underwater dreamscape, Remi find solace Aiden’s arms. However, the mundane reality of her life interrupts these tender moments. She clings to an old t-shirt of Aiden’s and a photograph as a memento of happier times spent at the pool with Aiden. Her dreamscape becomes darker as her first birthday after Aiden’s passing approaches.

In her search for connection, Remi wants to adopt a dog which Adam ignores and instead insists Remi celebrates her birthday. Remi’s emotional turmoil leaks into her professional life, leading her to get fired. Adam destroys Aiden’s t-shirt while doing laundry which causes an argument and Adam takes away the photo. As their relationship becomes strained, Remi hides she got fired and pretends she is going to work the next day. She adopts a puppy which gets faced by a major backlash by Adam as she expresses her need for a space to mourn, however, Adam makes her take the puppy back. As Remi wanders in the streets and gets lost in her dreamscape, Adam plans a surprise birthday party for her. Remi loses Aiden in the dark dreamscape as it dawns upon her that Aiden is really gone. She comes home to find an abandoned party and a mysterious gift box.

Inside, she finds the photo framed. In a flashback, Adam finds out Remi was fired as he calls her work to ask why she is late for the surprise party and realizes the importance of truly listening to his daughter and calls off the party. In present time, the heartfelt gesture mends their strained relationship, bringing them closer as the puppy joins them in the frame.