Micro Short AFIN 159
Assisted Living
Directed by 
Ken Kimura
AFIN 2023 Nominee
- 2023
- 9m
-
Australia - English
Stills
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Credits
Starring
Synopsis
An elderly woman wrestles with her deteriorating memory and her disdain for her support worker until a recollection evokes a change of heart.
Director's Statement
The burden of being a parent and a caregiver is daunting. It can be harsh all the while being beautiful. This film is a love letter to those around me, my family and those that I've met. Growing up, I was fortunate enough to have my great grandparents in my life. However, I had to witness them fade away as they would recognise us less and less over time. What struck me the most though was watching my grandparents having to tend to their every need. Their roles as caretakers, child and parent, had been reversed. One of my earliest documentaries focused on a woman who was her mother's informal caregiver for 15 years. Again, there was that notion of role reversal. Her mum was physically inept, needing assistance to move, and her memory was in disarray. It was a bleak situation for the daughter who was nearing her 60s and had a son of her own. What I discovered though were these amazing familial moments. The woman's mother would have bursts of clarity and relive precious memories for the first time alongside her child and grandson. This would become the catalyst for Assisted Living. As my mother becomes more and more forgetful, I am faced with the same journey - the same bittersweet responsibility. This film is about the generational passing of torches of parents. Rarely do we see put to screen the plight of informal caregivers. In 2021 in Australia alone, there were 1.4 million people providing informal care while also working. It is a burden worthy of its weight. At its core, Assisted Living is about the tragic privilege of caring for the loved ones who cared for you.
What makes this one special
- 3 awards at other festivalsNew York International Film Awards · New York Lift-Off Festival · Short+Sweet Film Festival Illwarra
- Programmed at 5 other festivalsAcross 2 countries
- Nominated for Best Actress
- A first-time filmmaker
Also selected at
3 awards, 1 finalist placing, 1 official selection across 5 other festivals
- WinnerNew York International Film Awards
- WinnerNew York Lift-Off Festival
- WinnerShort+Sweet Film Festival Illwarra
- FinalistAustralian International Film Festival
- SelectionOutback Vision Splendid Film Festival
Recorded by the filmmaker on their entry.
Director's Biography
Ken Kimura Director
Ken Kimura is a cinematographer and director. Raised in Australian from Japanese and Chinese decent, he developed a love of movies and eclectic tastes early on. He was raised on Jackie Chan beat-em-ups, Hayao Miyazaki animations and Australia cult classics like The Castle and Mad Max (1979). While studying at film school, Ken directed and edited the short film Warranty that screened at Vision Splendid Outback Film Festival. An invaluable experience where he won the Grand Jury Prize (Qantas Short Film Competition). This would lay the foundation for his path into filmmaking. He'd go on to work as a documentary filmmaker in Sydney collaborating with the likes of Google, LinkedIn and MYOB. It's here he fostered his more intimate, human centric approach to creating films. Ken was an Executive Producer on Head Count starring Ryan Kwanten that is set to be released later this year via Shout Factory in the US. Ken recently edited A Stretching Moment which won Best Short Feature at the Chicago Script Awards and was selected by the Indie Eye Film Awards and Tokyo International Festival. He also edited Banshees Ridge which has been selected for Julien Dubuque International, Portland Horror, Revelation Film Festivals. Currently based in Brisbane, Ken works for one of the leading TVC and content agencies in the Oceania Region, Taxi Film Production. As a director/DOP, he frequently operates on large scale sets. He has worked with brands including Porsche, Dominos and Chevrolet. With a dynamic and engaging style, Ken brings a vitality and technical proficiency to all the work he creates balanced with a healthy dose of unfiltered emotion and genuine storytelling.
Trailer
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Assisted Living was an official Nominee for Best Actress at the AFIN International Film Festival 2023, a Top 100 Best Reviewed and IMDb-qualifying festival.
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