Grandma’s Pond

Chloe, a sensitive teenager, Emil, her mischievous 6-year-old brother, and their mom Rose are at Grandma’s for the summer. Mom is very serious, Grandma is childish. They don’t get on. The old lady entertains the kids by talking about an imaginary island on the pond behind the house, but Mom doesn’t like these tales. She especially thinks Chloe is too old for such stories, and that it’s time for her to grow up. Chloe is torn between Grandma and Mom: stay a child or become a grown-up? One afternoon, as her mother has asked her to take care of her little brother, he disappears. Chloe panics. Grandma is convinced Emil has been kidnapped by a creature of the Island. Chloe and Grandma sneak away from Mom and travel to the island – Chloe realizes it really exists! There, Chloe must find her little brother, using her imagination and maturity at the same time. She will understand one can grow up and still be a child at heart. She’ll show it to her mom and Grandma, and reconcile them.

Director’s statement
I grew up in a big family. I learned everything from them. I inherited their values, their traditions and also the ones from their parents and grandparents. Like plenty of other friends, though, I also have family members who don’t get along. Who quarrel about conflicts from the past, conflicts that seemingly can’t be solved. Suddenly, there seems to be a break, a wall. And a new generation that might not have access to the heritage of traditions, tales and knowledge. I want to make a film about family. About transmission, about reconciliation and growing up. A film about kids exploring an old world of tales and myths that is almost lost. I am very much influenced by the eerie and poetic stories by Neil Gaiman, like The Ocean at the End of the Lane.