DEAR IMELDA

A SHORT FILM

BY DECLAN CURRAN

DIRECTED BY ARON HOLDEN

Starring Rose Henderson (Imelda) and Declan Curran (Ciaran) and set in the beautiful hills of Castlewellan. Imelda is shocked to find out that her grandson Ciaran has decided to move in with her. She is suspicious that the family have decided she cannot cope on her own and is reluctant to welcome him and positively frightened by his high tech ways. He can’t imagine life without WiFi and a compromise must be found.

Runner up BEST SHORT FILM FOYLE FILM FESTIVAL

DEAR IMELDA
Indie Shorts Magazine, 16 Aug 2024

Starring Rose Henderson and Declan Curran

Direction ***** Aron Holden
Cinematography
***** Raditya Santosa
Screenplay ***** Declan Curran
Editing
***** Aron Holden
Music ***** Tara Howley

Perhaps one of the finest shorts to come out this year, Director/Editor Aron Holden’s Dear Imelda set in a bucolic countryside of Ireland, explores the relationship between the eponymous Imelda (Rose Henderson) and her unwelcome grandson Ciaran (Declan curran). That he is unwelcome becomes evident right from the opening scene, but the hilarity of the two keeps snowballing until a secret deeply nurtured gets exposed. Holden lets the story take a wonderful turn to shed light on age, distance, relationships and the effect time and technology has on them, and in doing so he deftly manoeuvres the narration into one that leaves behind a sweet, emotional and thought-provoking outcome.
At 17:38 minutes, Dear Imelda not only manages to create an engaging timeline, but also leaves enough space for impactful moments that are long enough to be effective, and short enough to not become overly dragging. Declan Curran, who also happens to play the grandson Ciaran has an unmistakable boyish charm that he uses effectively to bring a cheeky but adorable temperament for his character. Right from stepping into Granny Imelda’s doorstep, Henderson makes it clear that this is her turf and an unwelcome guest shall remain subject of her suspicion. Words fall short when it comes to praising Henderson, the performance is simply that addictive. Her movements, antics, body language are spot on to what you’d expect the elderly generation to be. While wary and fiercely protective of her space and independence, one can’t help but fall in love with her when she peeks into her grandson’s activities. Watch out for the scene where she rummages through a parcel delivered, despite knowing its contents aren’t meant for her!
Tara Howley, whose music plays a crucial role in Dear Imelda manages to transport on in time. And it’s used with effect, to evoke a sense of belonging to something tender and dearly cherished. It’s worth noting how Holden uses the music to bring the characters together in an unexpecting but deeply personal way. As Ciaran and his Granny begin working out each other’s quirks, the small tasks undertaken, be it the grocery shopping or installing of the internet, they all become points of both contention, hilarious drama and an eventual surrender. The generation gap is well explored in these moments, using very little dialogue, which adds shimmer to the script.
Raditya Santosa, whose cinematography captures the beauty of Ireland like no other, offers plenty of shots that manage to cover the vastness, the emptiness and the space in between the house, its surroundings and its occupants in a manner that can only evoke bliss. It’s a feat in itself, because not only does it bring to life Imelda’s life but also its loneliness and the grim heartache she nurtured until unwittingly Ciaran ends up finding I out. There is a wholesomeness to this story, not simply because of its climax, but the approach that Holden takes. It is deliberate, measured and yet generous in its emotions and the lead actors do a wonderful job at bringing to life their characters. So wonderful is their chemistry and the natural disposition of their performance that one ends up hoping for a series or at least a sequel. A much deserved, a much awaited reply to Dear Imelda….

Aron Holden, Rose Henderson and Declan Curran

DEAR IMELDA
UK Film Review
Critic|: Jason Knight, July 7 2024


Directed by: Aron Holden
Written by: Declan curran
Starring: Rose Henderson and Declan Curran

A young man goes to stay with his grandmother and ends up changing her life for the better.
The setting of this short comedy drama is Ireland’s countryside, where Imelda (Henderson) an elderly woman, resides in a house by herself. One day, her grandson Ciaran (Curran) arrives as he needs a place to stay. Although she allows him into her home, she is unhappy with his presence as he unwillingly disrupts her lifestyle and he also brings technology into her house, which she is not fond of. However, he discovers something about her that will bring joy into her life.
The results of an unexpected family reunion is where the narrative follows and some are humorous and others are dramatic and they all involve Ciaran’s efforts to improve things for Imelda. Starting with throwing away her expired food and fixing her television, he then proceeds to introduce her to the internet and other technological products such as headphones. Although she initially refuses to have significant technology into her life, she eventually accepts it and it does make things better for her. However, Ciaran’s most significant contribution occurs when he attempts to contact a past friend of Imelda’s who he becomes aware of after seeing his granny looking through a photo album.
Story aside, this film also serves as a commentary about technology, about how technology makes people’s lives more comfortable and also seems to suggest that the elderly tend to be unaware of the benefits this application.
This short would not be a high-quality viewing without Henderson’s magnificent performance. Her character is a person who has become accustomed to living by herself and not relying on technology. She is kind of childish, utilising a tablet as a cutting board and treating the Internet like it is a lethal threat and she seems to be a bit confused, forgetting things such as buying new food and the condition of certain objects. She appears to find comfort by looking at pictures of her and a friend from when they were children. She goes through significant character development as she accepts her grandson into her life and embraces technology. Ciaran is a kind and helpful youth, played sympathetically by Curran. He cares deeply for his grandmother and goes to great lengths to make her life more comfortable and happy.
Huge commendations go to Holden’s superb directing, which includes wonderful shots of the ocean and landscapes, that are supported by Raditya Santosa’s cinematography. Holden also worked on the editing and is quite creative with the montages.
The beautiful music by Tara Holey and Faliq Auri is another element that deserves praise, especially when it comes to the song that enchants Imelda.
This is a heart-warming story about a caring youngster who manages to improve the life of his grandmother. Exploring old age, nostalgia and the significance of support and reaching out, this short provides an emotional and at times comical experience.