-Written by Kyle Bain.
Distant Memories follows Anna (Sissy O’Hara), an aging woman struggling with Alzheimers. As she spends time with her family and revisits memories from her past, the life she once knew slowly slips away.
Many moments throughout the course of Distant Memories come across as fractured, though, I’m not entirely sure if they are meant to convey the fractured nature of Anna. Either way, however, I’m not entirely sure that it works. Sure, on one hand, if Writer-Director Chris Esper was attempting to mirror Anna’s situation, I can understand and appreciate that–but I found the results dizzying. Though, I think this is simply a result of personal preference, rather than it being objectively unsuccessful.
Distant Memories is a dark film that uses dark tones to express itself, to get its point across. The film possesses a grainy texture that transcends its entirety, and with this being paired with the dark aesthetic it created a somber feeling that extended the reach of Distant Memories. In order for the film to be successful, Esper needed to be able to tap into this darkness–a physical darkness meant to represent the mental and emotional struggle of those struggling with Alzheimers. Using a physical expression of this mental struggle is the best way for the team to get their message across. I felt immersed in Anna’s world, troubled by her situation, oftentimes in the same ways that her daughter, Noelle (Christie Devine), felt throughout the film.
Distant Memories extends itself beyond the struggles of Anna, allowing viewers to see the point of view of her daughter and the world around her. While Alzheimers most definitely affects its host more than anyone else, it would be unfair to say that others don’t suffer as well. Distant Memories makes that clear from start to finish.
Distant Memories is a wonderfully constructed frame story. Anna’s story, Noelle’s story, and footage from the past are layered upon one another in a way that allows each of them to flourish, while complimenting each other nicely throughout the course of Distant Memories. Seeing aspects of this story from multiple perspectives adds depth to the film as a whole, and better allows its audience to appreciate what is happening before them.
I think my one issue with the film is that there are moments that focus solely on Anna that seem to drag on. They move slowly, and there are times in which there isn’t even much content present; it’s simply Anna in front of the camera, appearing to struggle to some degree. There was a slight disconnect here for me, but that’s really the only time that Distant Memories didn’t work like I had hoped.
I’ve used the word “struggle” what feels like far too many times, but the fact of the matter is that Distant Memories intends to shine light on a struggle that millions of people deal with every single day. The film is successful in doing that, in spreading the word and raising awareness, while actively looking to express that, again, the host isn’t the only person affected by this horrific disease. Well structured and well executed, Distant Memories does its job while being beautiful in the process.
Written & Directed by Chris Esper.
Starring Sissy O’Hara, Christie Devine, Alyson Muzila, Tim Connelly, Gabriella Spinney, etc.
8/10 = WORTH RENTING OR BUYING
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