YOUNG PEOPLE, OLD PEOPLE & NOTHING IN BETWEEN: A Film Review
by Karen Pecota

Parida Tanti | Thailand | 2022

Filmmaker Parida Tanti makes a short film YOUNG PEOPLE, OLD PEOPLE & NOTHING IN BETWEEN, in honor of someone who she called Grandma Vimol. She was similar to a nanny but revered as part of the family with an endearing name. Tanti and her sister from birth to their teen years had been under the watchful eye of Grandma Vimol. According to Tanti, Grandma Vimol knew everything about the girls and loved on them as if they were her own—understanding each individually, including their likes and dislikes.

Years later, Tanti met Grandma Vimol after not having seen each other for a very long time. With the passing of time, Grandma Vimol struggled to remember their connection. Tanti recalls, “She would momentarily remember who I was and then fall back into thinking I was my mother. Looking at her with countless memories of happiness, and for her not to be able to share it back, seeded in me an indescribable pain.” Thus the reason Tanti felt strongly to make a movie in honor of her, and the love she left behind.

Tanti shares, “This story is a tribute to the power of memory and its ability to tie people together—even when fractured or underlined with error. It is also a story about loss and recollection.” YOUNG PEOPLE, OLD PEOPLE & NOTHING IN BETWEEN presents a mature child with ADD and a childish Grandma with Alzheimer’s. Tanti’s gentle portrayal of the circle of life with humor, childlike acceptance and the need for each other. Hoping to be remembered when our days are done.

Synopsis:

Juice (Deedee Piamwiriyaku) is seven years old and on a mission to help her Grandma Lovely (Suwinya Kungsadan) hold on to as many memories as possible so that the early onset of dementia does not draw them apart but keeps them close.

One day, Juice notices that Grandma Lovely is sad and asks why. The elder says to Juice that she doesn’t like being old because she sees nothing good about battling old age and illnesses. Juice decides to cheer her up and brings her an award that she received in her music class. Grandma asks, “What is this for?” Juice says, “For being alive! For being alive a long, long time.”

Juice’s wish for Grandma Lovely to keep living is because she truly is lovely!