Micro Short
These Walls
Directed by 
Susanna van Aswegen
AFIN 2021 Finalist
- 2021
- 8m
-
Australia - English
Stills
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Credits
Written by
Produced by
Starring
Cinematography
Editing
Production Design
Music & Sound
Synopsis
With a common passion for street art, a free spirited grandmother and her grandson are forced to share their secret with his concerned single mother and prove that age has no barriers or limitations.
Julia, a protective single parent who works night shifts to make ends meet, worries that her ageing mother, Valerie, may no longer be capable of looking after her son, Eric, after school. Meanwhile, Julia is unaware of the valuable bond that has formed between her mother and her son over their love for creative expression in the form of street art.
Director's Statement
There has always been a negative perception of ageing in our society. ‘These Walls’ along with several other short films are part of a Queensland Government initiative called B.OLD which is aimed at shattering these negative stereotypes. The film looks at ageing from a family perspective, following the relationship between three characters, Valerie, a grandmother, her daughter Julia and her grandson Eric. The audience watches as Valerie is underestimated by her daughter whilst at the same time sharing a strong bond and level of trust with her grandson. The intention of the film is to convey the idea that age has no barriers or limitations. We learn that young and old can find common ground and that age doesn’t determine a person's capabilities.
What makes this one special
- 3 awards at other festivalsShort + Sweet Film Festival · Benalla Shorts Film Festival · Sanctuary International Film Festival
- Programmed at 15 other festivalsAcross 2 countries
- A first-time filmmaker
Also selected at
3 awards, 1 nomination, 11 official selections across 15 other festivals
- WinnerShort + Sweet Film Festival
- WinnerBenalla Shorts Film Festival
- WinnerSanctuary International Film Festival
- NomineeHeart of Gold International Film Festival
- SelectionByron Bay International Film Festival
- SelectionGold Coast Film Festival
- SelectionGrenoble Street Art Movie Fest
- SelectionIllawarra Film Festival
- SelectionQueensland Touring Film Festival
- SelectionSydney Indie Film Festival
- SelectionVision Splendid Outback Film Festival
- SelectionWest End Film Festival
- SelectionCapricorn Film Festival
- SelectionTravelling Film Festival
- SelectionQueensland Touring Film Festival
Recorded by the filmmaker on their entry.
Director's Biography
Susanna van Aswegen Director
Susanna van Aswegen is a filmmaker based on the Gold Coast, Australia. She completed her Bachelor in Film and Screen Media Production in 2016 at Griffith University and was given the opportunity to direct several projects during this time. Her graduate film ‘Red Kite’, which she wrote and directed, was her first film to undergo a festival run and had screened at festivals across the world including the Cannes Film Festival and Heart of Gold Film International Short Film Festival. ‘Red Kite’ was also awarded the inaugural Centurion Short Film Award at the Brisbane International Film Festival. ‘These Walls’ is the first short film Susanna has made since graduating from university and wishes to continue writing scripts and directing short films in her spare time between her freelance and personal film work.
