By Rhys Pearson
Genre: Short Film; Drama
Duration: 19 Minutes
Director: Deepthy Nirmala James
Taking her second plunge as a director, Indian-Australian filmmaker Deepthy Nirmala James has had a short run in the film industry, but like her debut 2024 short film Whirlpool, she had made it her goal to use film to raise awareness of mental health.
A Long Goodbye is a Westie production with key cast members hailing from Sydenham and Deepthy herself a resident of Hillside.
It follows the short story of an elderly couple battling through the pain and heartache of dementia, played by the real life couple Jackie and Laurance A Jackson. Jackie’s character is in a battle with time as she copes with the trials and tribulations of dementia, while her husband Laurance witnesses his beloved wife slowly lose herself.
Deepthy’s 17 years experience in aged care shines bright as she takes delicate care to showcase how the effects of dementia can make and break a family. As Jackie’s character starts to lose herself and her family to the chronic illness ‘a long goodbye’ really is emphasised.
“During production, I also became more aware of how subtle ageism can be, and how it can unintentionally disempower people. What I’ve learned is that the person is still very much there; still feeling, still experiencing, and deserving of dignity and respect. Ultimately, the film reinforced for me that dementia is not just about loss, but about how we choose to respond with empathy, understanding, and presence… Even when my stories are not directly about aged care, a part of those experiences always finds its way into my work – through the way I approach characters, empathy, and human connection.”
“For me, creating and sharing stories like A Long Goodbye and Whirlpool comes from witnessing many people in deeply vulnerable and helpless situations, where I often wished I could do more for them. I believe storytelling is a powerful way to bring forward messages of empathy, kindness, and understanding.
A Long Goodbye is entering its festival run across the state so keep an eye out for screenings. In the meantime Deepthy is already working toward her next feature film. Whatever the project may be, we look forward to seeing what emotional character driven stories she can create.
