AWAKEN | Omeleto

A daughter tries to comfort her mother with Alzheimer's -- but it backfires.
AWAKEN is used with permission from Leena Pendharkar. Learn more at leenap.com.
Rakhi has recently put her mother, Uma, into a care center after exploring other options for her treatment for Alzheimer's. But Rakhi’s mother isn’t taking well to it, with long spells of crying and bouts of confusion. At a loss of what to do and reluctant to increase Uma's medication, Rakhi brings her mother home in hopes of comforting her and helping her reset.
But bringing Uma home puts a strain on Rakhi's own family, and Uma herself doesn't seem to feel any better. Things hit their lowest point when Uma disappears. But as Rakhi searches for her, a moment from Uma's past paves the way to a solution.
Directed and written by Leena Pendharkar, this restrained but affecting short drama captures the delicate but heartwrenching difficulties of adult children caring for elderly parents, especially those struggling with Alzheimer's. With a quiet, observant naturalism in the visuals and attention to the unspoken subtexts underneath Rakhi's words and actions, it chronicles both the struggles of Rakhi to figure out the best course of care for her mother, as well as the internal journey to hold onto the parent she knows and loves underneath the ravages of dementia and disease.
The storytelling is elegantly pared-down, but it takes care to lay out the various pressures that Rakhi shoulders, which intersect with the stress of dealing with her mother's care: she has a high-pressured job, as well as the tension in her own marriage and family. When Uma doesn't adjust well to the care center, the task of figuring out what to do next compounds her burden. Faced with the choice of upping her mother's meds or putting her in a different facility, Rakhi decides to take her mother home for a temporary reset as a last resort, in hopes that it will soothe and comfort her. But Rakhi's husband is against the idea, adding to tension at the home. And Uma herself is undeniably deteriorating, which becomes all too clear to Rakhi when Uma disappears.
Audiences may recognize actor Parminder Nagra from films and TV like BEND IT LIKE BECKHAM or ER. She plays Rakhi with a competent but weighed-down demeanor, hinting powerfully at the roiling, competing emotions underneath. There's a sense of hope against hope that Uma isn't deteriorating as much as she is, tied to a subtle denial of that fact. When Uma -- played by actor Vee Kumari -- disappears, Rakhi finds her in a meaningful spot from the past that helps Rakhi make peace with a difficult solution.
In doing so, Rakhi finally accepts the reality in front of her and makes peace with the road she needs to take, one that will care for her mother and allow Rakhi the space to tend to other aspects of her life. Poignant and heartbreaking, AWAKEN is about that often lonely process of acceptance, where a daughter resigns herself to the changes that her mother will continue to go through, losing more and more of the parent she grew up with. The love will always be there, but the reality must be faced, as quietly devastating as it is.

[@natureboytom]

She needed her husbands support and it wasn’t there. Sad.

[@LivingInTheShade]

A sad story brilliantly acted. Alzheimer's is a horrible disease, robbing memories and putting victims in an awful time loop. This is unofficially known as the third type of diabetes. To be forewarned is to be forearmed.

[@masnaringquest4626]

I like this actress...you can really feel her pain. Dementia is a horrible disease, and I truly hope it becomes a thing of the past soon.

[@maryburrell3948]

Parminder Naga great actress. Remember her from ER show.

[@karolinaszczudlo9871]

That's horrible difficult situation... I know, cause Mum took her Mum with Alzheimer's...and too her only sister did more damage then good and then washed hands,,, I was professional carer in ppls homes too and was on 24/7 with one affected lovely lady before she passed...she was privileged though to have loving children around whenever they could...she seemed to be lost in time space and that's ofcourse scary state of total vulnerability...love to all who touched it ❤

[@kellyj.azania4371]

Parminder excels in all of her roles.

[@eugenetswong]

Was she in any other Omeleo films? She seems good at the serious roles. She didn't over act.

[@h8shunlou]

@@eugenetswong She was fantastic in ER

[@johnhfrick]

She had a good role in Fortitude, one of my all-time favorite shows (though I think only in season 2). I recommend it to anyone who hasn'tseen it.

[@justingary5322]

FACTS

[@janicemahan4772]

Parminder Nagra is a most-excellent actress! I loved her portrayal of a police detective on PBS'S Masterpiece Theater.

[@nataliewilliams9741]

I lost my mother to undiagnosed dementia. I knew she had it, but her doctors were clueless. Brings back a lot of grief for me.

[@nadiarey4196]

Sending you a virtual hug

[@nataliewilliams9741]

@@nadiarey4196 Thank you, that's very kind.

[@Bethsabee_Sheba_Newrose]

I am so deeply sorry. What a terribly difficult loss to process 😢

[@justingary5322]

I'm sorry about your mother's passing 😔

[@missricka6801]

What a beautiful film!

[@gamkagan]

Powerful acting

[@justingary5322]

Awesome acting performances from everyone in the cast especially Parminder Nagra she's cool 😎

[@lavenheit]

Don't tell me she's the one in Bend it like Beckham. Time flies.

[@MisterNohbdy]

we're oooollllddd (-.-)

[@lavenheit]

@@MisterNohbdy nah. We're gggooollldddddd 😩😩😆😆

[@Whydoyouwanttoknowanyway]

I remember her from ER. She is a very great actress.

[@clivesmith9377]

Hey! That's Seamus Dever from "Castle".

[@priyanka7264]

I missed Parminder Nagra for her subdued but powerful facial expressions. Thank you for sharing this. My parents are getting older and it makes me think, how I can love them a bit more today.

[@scottjohnson6455]

Very well done and effective. No one is prepared for failing parents. It leaves a mark you do not want.

[@charlottegrace6656]

Classic Omeleto. Relatable and making me shed a tear.

[@micknordstrom2591]

This hit me hard. My mother have dementia and it is getting worse.

[@Prizzy999]

My elderly mother is in her early stage of dementia. It's frightening.
A big hug to you.

[@user-hn4nq4vt2s]

Needed that one. It is an everyday experience.

[@TomoyoTatar]

Every single day in the nursing home

[@CommonSenseRevolution]

I am never disappointed with what Omeleto delivers. Another well-acted, touching and amazing short!

[@jannariley3254]

What a terrible disease - we all seem to be heading towards it.
Thank you for the film. ❤

[@loreagooden2113]

Not all.

[@user-fs5xq5im5s]

The first is an Alien😂

[@outb4thecount]

😔 💔

[@raiderfrankdatank]

Looks like you need a better husband who would help you

[@Bethsabee_Sheba_Newrose]

And sister!

[@raiderfrankdatank]

@@Bethsabee_Sheba_Newrose 💯

[@tobe-you-tube6612]

I met young students and future caregivers for old people showing demential demeanor. I was shocked by their mindset, lack of empathy and humanity. I mean they choosed to take care of vulnerable people. People like Rakhi should never be that trustful. They literally let their loved ones between their hands.

[@TomoyoTatar]

I have worked with these kind of people; they are horrific

[@tobe-you-tube6612]

@@TomoyoTatar Have no clue for the older generation

[@Bethsabee_Sheba_Newrose]

Sometimes we really don’t have a choice 😢

[@johntirado-glover3574]

Classic Omeleto.

[@samcatpar]

first lol

[@kwabenaamanfoh6675]

My girl NEELA

[@josephtyler3022]

second lol

[@josephtyler3022]

Fell off, 41 views in 3 minutes

[@000aleph]

Didn't really touch me. Too short and formulaic.