Becalmed

Encalminée, translation ‘Becalmed’ is a short film by film student, Mathieu Jobard. It follows Jade, who is a carer for her bedridden mother whilst studying at the same time. Taking on this responsibility proves difficult for Jade as she juggles uncertainty and feels it’s putting her life on hold.

Hopeful that her mother may get better at some point, Jade (Nina Azouzi) has to provide day-in, day-out care for her mother. It’s taking its toll on Jade as she has to see her mother decline and meet her daily needs. She goes through the process of grief, isolation, and anger whilst yearning for freedom. Rather than watching her mother slowly lose herself, Jade flees to feel some type of peace and to get away from it all.

This is an incredible feat for a film student creating an impactful and visually appealing short. At only 10 minutes, it manages to capture such a secluded, sombre tone throughout the environments and acting. Credits to Nina Azouzi for the emotional range she provides, displaying that grief is not just one size fits all. You can be grieving for the loss of a person that once was, full of life, and one that was originally your caregiver, parent, mother. It tackles the sense of guilt caregivers experience, in this case, Jade, as she wants to accomplish her goals in life.

Overall, the short hits home the right emotional chords, but it does lack depth within the writing. The short run time could have been lengthened, and therefore, deeper connections to characters could have been formed. Bonding with the characters would have allowed for more moving moments and left a lingering impression. Becalmed provides a great insight into caregiving and the mental cost it takes. Along with brilliant performances, cinematography, and editing, it radiates a professional energy. Jobard is an up-and-coming talent with a variety of works and one to look out for.

Becalmed was featured in the International Festival of Red Cross and Health Films. It was nominated/finalised in script categories, including a nominee for Best Script at the Newham Film Festival.