SSF: “Lady with Long Hair”

Last updated on: January 14, 2015 at 5:20 pm by Joseph Susanka

SSF: “Lady with Long Hair” 2015-01-14T17:20:35-07:00 Joseph Susanka

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

In the wake of a wonderful Mother’s Day, an animated reminder of the way we children and our lives are woven together with those of our mothers, shaping them and their memories just as deeply as they shape us and ours.

Again, lots of wonderfully subtle little touches. Like the way the short uses Grandma’s glasses to highlight her emotions, making great use of the exaggerated magnification. Or the way you so rarely see the top of her hair and have no real frame of reference for its length/volume/height, foreshadowing the moving final sequence. Or the slight rounding of the corners of the frame, like the edges of an old photograph. And I love the way we start to see the backstory in little dribs and drabs early on — the wall of pictures is key here — so that everything clicks into place by the finale. And the music, reminding me once again that there is never a bad time to use the cello. And, of course, the way her hair ties everything together; its waving strands and her wavering memories blending together, recalling and calling and drawing her home. (But my favorite bit? The way she eats the cherries as she’s garnishing those treats. Fantastic.)

More on this particular short can be found here, thanks to Cartoon Brew. Unsurprisingly, it’s based on creator Barbara Bakos‘ own childhood memories:

The idea of the film came from my family and from my own grandma. When I was a child, I spent most of the time with my grandparents because I never wanted to go to the kindergarten. So I had a lot of lovely memories and adventures with them. We would sit in the backyard playing with little fingerpuppets, painting, and baking cherry pies together, and I was always amazed at how much my grandparents loved each other. Since my grandpa passed away, my grandma lives alone. Her personality, her feelings, memories and her point of view inspired me to make this short film about her lifelong love, and about that state of mind where you just can’t let go of the most important person in your life.

I was pleased to see Father and Daughter (from Michael Dudok de Wit) mentioned as an influence. They have a very similar mood, come to think of it. Not bitter-sweet, exactly, because they’re far sweeter than they are bitter. Melancholic, perhaps? Or appropriately nostalgic?

Attribution(s): All artwork, publicity images, and stills are the property of their respective creators and/or distributors.

Summa Short Films

Previous Post

May 11, 2014

My Most Anticipated Film of 2015

Next Post

May 13, 2014 A Special Anniversary for Dodger Fans

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Art Baseball Faith Family Lenten Music Movies Music No Commentary Necessary Parked By the Jukebox Photography Politics Quodlibets Streaming Video Suggestions Summa Short Films Television The Man Behind the Booth Through a Lens, Darkly

Select a Month December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 July 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 November 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz