Probably the toughest tasks in everyone’s life is to say goodbye to a loved one. While for some, the realization sets in some time later, for others the loss in unbearable, resulting in a long while before they can face their own daily routine again, with the image of the loved one forever branded into their minds. For some, the idea of going through that last farewell can take on many different forms, sometimes even one which may strike others as odd or even inappropriate. For Vietnamese-American filmmaker Julian Doan, this is exactly where his new short feature “Raspberry” sets in, combing a serious matter with comedic tones and, ultimately, a very personal and heartfelt way of saying goodbye.
Raspberry is screening at Viet Film Fest
In “Raspberry” we meet a family who has just suffered a tragic loss, as the father has died. While the majority of his family, his mother (Alexis Rhee), his sister (Gihee Hong) and his older brother (Joseph Lee) are in tears as well as in shock, the second son (Raymond Lee) seems a little distant, as he has not yet fully grasped what has happened. However, as the undertakers come to their home, asking the family members to give their farewell to the body of their loved one, the youngest son shows his love and grief in a gesture which irritates and touches those around him at the same time.
While for the most part, Doan’s short is quite what the audience might expect given the combination of family drama and dealing with loss, he chooses the ending to deliver a final punchline, for the lack of a better word. Interestingly, cinematographer Geoff George does not divert from the carefully framed shots he has used throughout the movie, but rather sticks with them, seemingly highlighting how the son’s gesture, irritating as it may be, is a part of his own, very personal way of saying goodbye, probably linking to his childhood memories. In the end, Doan manages to emphasize the bond of the family even further, who accepts the gesture and engages in a final farewell which we see as the credits begin to roll.
In conclusion, “Raspberry” is a heartfelt short feature who manages to tell a family drama about dealing with grief in a very human and articulate way.
