Animated short portrays enduring love and dementia

A new moving and very personal animated short film Mirumiru looks at the love and bond between two kaumatu, an elderly Maori couple, Shorty and Lena as they deal with Lena's progressing mate wareware or dementia. Inspired by writer and director Allan George's own family story and personal experiences, the film has no dialogue using visuals and music to tell the emotional story. It's been produced alongside Auckland-based Mukpuddy Animation studio and portrays kaumatua in a way audiences don't usually see; front and centre on the big screen. Mirumiru will be screening at Maoriland Festival on Friday 28 March in a community screening for the first time. Allan George spoke to Culture 101 about processing and grieving his own experiences through writer and creating the short film.