In Durban, South Africa, Lishana cares for her dying mother. Art becomes a way for her to begin grieving and make sense of the various family and national tensions that shaped her mother’s life. Through reenactments, film manipulation and a diary-style narrative, the film offers a thoughtful reflection on transmission, migration and the many legacies that shape our lives. As Lishana moves through the various stages of grief, from acceptance to anger, the film's imagery reflects her emotional states, constantly seeking to connect them to something larger. Nationalism, solidarity and colonial violence run throughout her story. Playing with documentary conventions, this feature film explores both how we narrate our personal histories and the collective possibilities they hold, placing cinema at the heart of their realization. (MF)

Co-presented with Ciel variable

competition : International Feature Competition

mother, you have not died yet. but you will. and when you do, you will finally be alive again.