It’s not very often that I get really excited for a film these days. We are filled in a world of remakes and sequels, which are fine but I always look out for anything original coming out. Let’s travel back to 2012 for a minute, I got a screener for a then little known film “Strange Frame: Love & Sax”, which was written, produced, shot and directed by a guy named G.B. Hajim. So I watched this film and was literally blown away. It is like nothing I have ever seen before and it has stuck with me over the last 10+ years. If you haven’t seen it, I highly recommend doing so immediately, click here. So when I saw that G.B. had a new film on the horizon, I got excited right away. This guy has a vision and his films are extremely unique.
MERMAIDS’ LAMENT deals with some serious topics such as depression and anxiety. Tell me, who doesn’t deal with these issues in their own life. G.B. brings these into the light and shows us how everyone struggles daily with their own demons. The film also focuses on our oceans and the effects of pollution and waste. MERMAIDS’ LAMENT is beautifully shot with some amazing underwater sequences as well. You can tell that G.B. has an eye for beauty that is seen throughout this film.
Official Premise: The story of two women who find strength in each other despite their personal struggles, MERMAIDS’ LAMENT follows two women: Oee (Dayva Summer Escobar) a traumatized woman who has lost her voice and may or may not be a mermaid. Her therapist, Dr. Nell Jamison (Justina Mattos) battles with anxiety herself, attempts to help Oee overcome her delusions and connect with reality. As they bond over their experiences, they learn to be resilient like the ocean and embrace the power of imagination to navigate the chaos of the world.
Dayva Summer Escobar, who played the role of Oee really delivers an epic performance. Without speaking much, she takes us on a journey of the struggles of mental health and the beauty of the ocean. Justina Mattos, who played Dr. Nell Jamison also brings it home with a deep and caring performance. This is a film that I could watch over and over. It is a heartfelt and moving story that takes us through the power of imagination and the strength that comes from human connection.
If you are in the Hollywood, CA area, I would highly recommend checking out the MERMAIDS’ LAMENT as it will be screening on June 25th at 9:30pm at the TCL Chinese Theater as part of Dances with Films festival. You can get tickets here. This is a film that needs to be seen by everyone and experienced on the big screen. It is not a $100 million dollar blockbuster but you can tell that it was a real labour of love for everyone involved. I can’t wait to see what G.B. is going to do next but count me in for damn sure!
