Writer/Director Statement - Ariana King

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‘Mama’s Love Bird’ was inspired during a visit to my grandmother in the Czech Republic. I noticed how being a widow and isolation imposed by the pandemic, significantly altered her behaviour and had lasting effects on her mental health. I began reminiscing and wishing to go back to how it was, almost felt like mourning for the grandmother I once knew. In this short, I wanted to explore through a personal, intimate lens of a person dealing with mental health such as anxiety and depression and the challenges of accepting new changes in life from a mother’s and daughter's perspective.

 

I aimed to show the daughter's desires for her mother’s well-being and a return to the days of her childhood. However, Ida prefers to stay indoors, secluded in her apartment. Amidst, the conflict, both Alex and Ida must confront the new reality of their present circumstances, Ida’s transformation due to mental health and Alex having left the nest. However, through their shared experiences, chasing the birds, arguing in the car, and swimming in the sea they slowly rekindle their relationship. Ida appreciates her daughter for forcing her to step outside of her apartment and Alex recognises that their relationship can be embraced in the present without wanting it to be the way it was before. 

 

Much like most relationships, we bicker, challenge each other, and yearn for closeness. I am deeply thankful to the DOP, and colourist for enhancing this feeling through the visuals and evoking a strong sense of nostalgia, intimacy, and warmth. In the sound design, I wanted to show through the mind of Ida, the comfort she feels at her home compared to the outside world. The sound designer Mike Logan did an excellent job of crafting the realities of the outside world and making it feel uncomfortable, effectively conveying the protagonist’s resistance to stepping outside.

 

The inclusion of birds in the script became a crucial element of the film, one I couldn’t envision removing from the film. Thanks to the support of the Producers and the dedication of VFX artist and Editor Thomas Boby, this creative risk became a reality. The birds add a unique layer to the narrative and an important motif for the film, and I am grateful for the collaboration that brought this vision to life. 

 

Despite the challenges inherent in the script, I feel fortunate to have such a talented cast and crew who embraced those challenges and decided to take the leap and make the best film we could make in the circumstances. The freedom and urgency to create was such a rewarding experience. It made me realise that with a crew who are excited about the project, a camera and passionate actors, it is possible to make it happen. Working with the cast Annie-Lee Jones, Maizilee Trevillion, and Florance Jones playing Young Alex was such a joy. They brought a flare to their characters which added to the comedy, relatability, and emotional portrayal of the mother-and-daughter relationship. Working with each member of the crew and cast has been an absolute pleasure, their enthusiasm for the project shaped the film into what it is today. Without them, this film would not have reached its current form.

 

I hope that the film will make the viewers laugh and find elements of relatability or be moved in some way. 

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