Countergrowth

Sixteen-year-old Mari loses her mom to suicide, something she hasn’t fully grasped. So she keeps her detached dad and best friend Kath at length— they won’t get it anyway. Mari even ignores the unpleasant rash the funeral flowers caused. But her grief can’t be ignored when it starts bursting in flower-form out of her rashy skin. Panicked Mari hides, cuts, and pulls out her grief-flowers; though painful, she feels a sense of control. Mari pushes those who notice away, isolates herself, and lets her grief-flowers to take over her body and home. When forced to return to school, flowers and all, she gets met with utter bafflement. Embarrassed Mari gives up, goes home but makes a frightening discovery. Dad is completely rooted in his own grief. Not wanting to meet the same tangled fate, Mari fights for her escape and flees. In a last ditch effort, she confides in Kath and pours all her incomprehensible emotions out. Kath’s genuine and heartfelt compassion finally helps Mari embrace her pain

Director’s statement
At sixteen, I lost my mom to suicide; it’s stigma left little space to progress my grief. It’s a hard conversation to start when the subject gets kept at an arm’s length. That’s why I want to craft space through film and open up the discussion around lasting impact of sudden loss; offering recognition to those who feel left behind. And also to those who, for whatever reason, can’t let themselves be comforted in their grief. For these people to see it, I am already actively looking to reach a wider audience.

COUNTERGROWTH centers themes of opening up, voicing difficult emotions and (re)connection— therefor getting the opportunity to (learn to) present while still developing the project feels highly fitting. Plus, my film touches on universal topics in a distinct way; all the while highlighting mental health issues that are often overlooked, thus adding diversity to how grief is shown in animated movies. All this makes COUNTERGROWTH, in my opinion, an excellent addition to your program.