Matriarch

Short Documentary 2025

After 40 years of building a life in Australia, my 78-year-old grandmother embarks on a bittersweet journey back to Serbia, hoping to rebuild a life in the place she once called home. This intimate documentary captures her return, delving into the complex and often painful concept of "home" for those who live between two worlds. Through her story, we confront the migrant's paradox: the yearning to reconnect with one’s roots, only to find that the reasons for leaving still linger, unchanged by time. Instead of a joyful homecoming, her journey reveals a stark truth—that sometimes, the place of our birth holds the power to break us.

Director: Ariella Jelic
Cinematographer: Ariella Jelic
Editor
: Alex Mendez
Featuring: Branislava Zunic