MIJO

Directed by Chithra Jeyaram

Mijo (My Son): An evocative portrayal of a mother and childâ€™s intimate relationship in the midst of

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Genre: Arts, Portrait, Essay, Culture, and Contemporary Issues
Synopsis: MIJO SYNOPSIS:
MIJO is an immensely personal documentary about the relationship between a young mother who is a professional dancer and her 6-year-old son, as she undergoes treatment for breast cancer. The film is a delicate balance between the sonâ€™s innocence and the motherâ€™s attempts to communicate her battle. Ultimately, the film is an affirmation of love and the purpose of life.
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DIRECTORâ€™S STATEMENT:
A diseased human body is a chaotic system and as a filmmaker, I am interested in telling stories of the disruptive consequences of illness from unique perspectives. MIJO explores the dynamics of the relationship between a mother who is a dancer and her playful young son. Approximately 30% of women diagnosed with breast cancer in the United States have young dependent children living with them. Mothers with dependent children also account for 20% of women that die of breast cancer. Therefore, I intend for the film to evoke a desire for dialogue and highlight the difficulties faced by cancer survivors with young children. .
Stage: finished
Running time: 9 and 33 minutes

Release year: 2011
Festivals: Outbox Int'l Short Film Festival (FF); Newport Beach FF; SunScreen FF; Sene FF; ECU FF; Green Bay FF; Talking Pictures FF; Int'l Famiily FF; AFS shortcase @SXSW; GLUNA FF; The MIX FF; Magnolia FF; Thin Line Doc FF; Super Shorts FF; Breast Fest FF.
Awards: Best Doc @Watersprite, Cambridge Univ UK + Award from Commonwealth Broadcasting Assn's Your world view; Best Student Doc @ Pennine FF Lancashire, UK; 3rd Best short Doc - Winnipeg FF, Manitoba, Canada; Best of Show @Rosebud, VA; 2nd Best Short @jamesriver
Language: English and Spanish
Subtitles: French