Directed by Álvaro Gabarrón, who co-wrote the script with Juan Silvestre Gabarrón, Zheimer serves as a poignant, beautiful, and haunting dissertation on the isolation that comes along with memory loss. Imaginative and well-edited, this dream-like dramatic short demands to be taken seriously.
Greta (Lone Fleming) wakes up one morning to find she no longer recognizes her face. This quickly sets Greta on a mission to connect with the stranger she sees in the mirror. Along the way, she relives old memories, wrestles with the ghosts from her past, and is finally able to make amends with the life she has lived. A particular standout scene involves a ballerina.
“Greta wakes up one morning to find she no longer recognizes her face.”
Throughout this striking short, the spotlight is firmly on Greta. Fleming’s portrayal of Greta is a masterclass in vulnerability, drawing the audience into her world. The snappy transitions and a keen eye for imagery create a unique and unforgettable viewing experience for the duration of Zheimer. The filmmakers’ ability to paint a surreal picture of a very real affliction is a testament to their artistry.
Well, that is, to a certain degree. With just 13 minutes to get its point across, the narrative could have benefited from a structure that informed some of the more nebulous premises brought up throughout. Sadly, Gabarrón and company lean into emotion instead of logic, which means the film winds up being unable to fully articulate itself.
Now, this isn’t to say that Zheimer totally fails. On the contrary, it succeeds in more ways than one. This is the type of artistic endeavor that more creatives should be taking. It reminds us all of a piece of ourselves we ignore. Though imperfect, this short will leave you hauntingly at peace. We need more films like this.
"…we need more films like this."
