Ayomikun, a young British Nigerian girl, is faced with the devastating reality of her grandmother’s terminal illness. As her grandmother’s health declines, Ayomikun learns to embrace every moment they have left together. Aware of the little time she has left, Grandma is determined to leave a legacy, so she passes on wisdom about faith, culture and the power of finding joy even in the darkest times. Through these intimate moments, they learn to live in the present and celebrate life, love and family.
AYOMIKUN is an emotional and intimate drama, that is told through the perspective of the young girl. The tone of the film can be described as sad, yet hopeful.
The cinematography vision for Ayomikun aims to explore the themes of joy, faith and memory. Subtle camera movement will be motivated by Ayomikun’s actions and psychological perspective. The use of soft lighting in the interior night scenes will portray the intimate and cosiness of the Grandmother’s home. The natural daylight scenes will focus on the characters relationship to nature, spirituality and the warm joyful moments in their home.
The cinematography will use silhouettes and characters framed in reflections to emphasise the characters feelings of isolation and introspection.
Their home is cosy, slightly cluttered and a representation of their blended British Nigerian culture. Their home also signifies their shared memories, love, tears and laughter.
Ayomikun was raised by her grandmother for as long as she can remember. Hence coming to terms with her grandmother's illness has not been easy. Ayomikun struggles to live in the present and cherish her final moments with her grandma knowing it will all end soon. She wrestles with her grief in silence, allowing thoughts of hope to slip in and out.
Grandma is only focused on one thing: securing her granddaughter's future. She does this by instilling in her, spiritual values and morals, as well as reminding Ayomikun of her roots in Nigerian culture. With her witty sense of humour and her inner strength, she embodies the theme joy in chaos.
Over the past six years, I’ve lost three remarkable women in my life due to an illness. My mum, my grandma and a close aunt from my church. Despite their immense suffering, what stood out to me in their final days was their unwavering faith. Even in their darkest moments, they continued to praise God and carried a deep, abiding joy, regardless of their pain. Their strength and joy in the face of adversity has taught me that joy is not dependent on your circumstances. It's a conscious choice- one that is often harder to make in the midst of tribulations, yet a choice that will always be worth fighting for.
You may not have experienced the pain of losing a loved one or had to say goodbye so soon like the characters in this story, but we all need a reminder that joy can be found in the midst of life’s greatest storms, even in our darkest hour.
Join Ayomikun and her grandma as they celebrate life, faith, culture, food, and family, choosing joy despite their pain. Please help us bring this story to life by donating to our film. Together, we can share this powerful message of resilience and joy with the world.