Project UnLonely Films Season 8
Between The Silence
Mina Patel
Despite a language barrier, two socially isolated, immigrant women find companionship while gardening and watching over their grandchildren in their backyards.
About The Film
Watch this video to hear from the filmmaker about their film, what they hope people will take away from it, and how they think films can connect us.
Meet the Filmmaker
What is their why?
Mina’s life journey has taken her on a “seeker’s” path. She uses her background in social justice, education, and civic engagement to bring a creative light to underserved voices. The driving force behind her work is to explore how we as individuals create community and a sense of belonging. She launched The Republic of Kindness (RoK) in response to the growing polarization and culture of disconnection in our lives. Her film, Between the Silence, explores the epidemic of loneliness and yearning for belonging through the lives of two socially isolated immigrant women. She combines the RoK workshops and the film screening to spark conversation on creating meaningful gatherings to cultivate a sense of belonging. A global citizen, she has lived, volunteered, and studied all over the world and has come to the conclusion that the universal desire to belong is found in all cultures.
“The driving force behind my work is to explore how we as individuals create community. As a storyteller, I use my background in social justice and civic engagement to bring a creative light to ignite conversations and cultivate curiosity, empathy, and community. In my film Between the Silence, I explore the growing epidemic of loneliness and social isolation, and how we can create meaningful connections with empathy and simple acts of kindness. This story is based on my grandmother who immigrated to Chicago at the age of 70 and her relationship with her neighbor, a Polish grandmother. Both women struggle with loneliness and social isolation in their new country. Immigration can birth a space of understanding and familiarity between people from different parts of the world that transcends borders and cultures and creates new relationships. This is a visually engaging story that captures the universal desire for home through the lives of two displaced women. Full Spectrum Features, a Chicago-based film production company, works with storytellers to create films with social impact. The film has been screened at civic, non-profit, and business organizations. The screening is followed by an interactive discussion/workshop that engages participants on ways they can alleviate loneliness and create meaningful connections with people in their lives (work, neighbors, family, etc.).”
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Very touching!!!
Very touching from an 83 year old great grandmother myself
What a wonderful, warmly-colored film that shines a light on key issues that many parts of society face today. Beautiful, American story!
Thank you! It is indeed an American story – where people from all over the world can build a new “home” with curiosity and empathy and of course, small acts of kindness. – Mina
Absolutely beautiful on so many levels of misunderstandings, then to witness understanding through different languages, then compassion and finally empathy at the bedside.
Please continue to make these short movies for us who live on a lonely planet. It gives us hope in a world that goodness and love can be possible .
Very lovely and timely, universal appeal to the heart and soul. Perfect music…Blessings,
Very Heartwarming & Human.
Simple basic kindness.
Nice to see incidents in the lives of old people, who are often overlooked.
Very understated but extremely touching!
Beautiful, tender film.
How wonderful it would be for all of us elder orphans to make a new friend and get rid of the isolation. This was a very special film. Thank you.