Story Summary
“Alireza” is a man whose life enters a tense phase after his father’s death. His mother suffers from memory loss (dementia/Alzheimer’s), and her condition worsens day by day.
Alireza’s family — his siblings — believe that their mother should be placed in a care home so that she receives proper care and the family is relieved of the pressure.
However, Alireza strongly opposes this decision; he feels that placing his mother in a care facility would be a betrayal of his parents.
The story revolves around the tension between family emotions, duty, economic and ethical pressures, forcing Alireza to make a difficult choice between his heart and the reality of life.
Theme and Message
The film addresses several profound human themes:
- Responsibility in the Parents’ Elderly Years
When parents grow weak, the real burden of life falls on the children’s shoulders. - Conflict Between Love and Logic
Alireza loves his mother deeply, but he lacks the capacity to care for her. - Social Judgment
Sending parents to a care home is always subject to judgment:
Is it an act of cruelty, or is professional care a better option? - Gradual Family Breakdown
Everyone wants their own solution, but no one waits to see what the mother herself truly wants.
Characters
- Alireza — Main character; a devoted man under pressure, oppressed, caught between duty and reality.
- Mother — Central to the film; suffers from memory loss, unstable and fragile, yet has profoundly human aspects.
- Siblings — Represent logical but cold thinking; support the idea of a care home.
- Doctor/Caregiver — Brief but symbolic role in confirming the mother’s difficult condition.
Cinematic Tone
Emotional, heavy, and familial
Colors: Gray, soft tones, cool fades
Mise-en-scène: Simple home, empty spaces, focus on hands and faces
Editing pace: Slow, tense, emphasizing pauses and silence (directly connected to film editing)
Technical Info
- English Title: Swelling
- Persian Title: برآمدگی
- Year: 2021
- Duration: 14:59 minutes
- Genre: Family/Social Drama
- Type: Short Film
- Editor: Manouchehr Sanaei
- Official Platform: FilmFreeway
- Screening Status: Festival participation (public version not released)