ALINA SHORT FILM

My name is Melody Mehryan and I am a director/filmmaker based in New York City. I am a graduate from NYU Tisch School of the Arts and am making my directorial debut this fall with my new short film, ALINA.

In this short narrative drama, we follow a young woman named Alina who struggles with the guilt of a deadly accident she caused six years ago. On a typical night shift at her work, she comes across an expecting mother whose sudden illness gives her the opportunity to amend her past.

For most of my early life, I lived alone with my mother. When she became pregnant with my little brother, our lives changed. I had to mature and grow a lot quicker than most at my age to learn how to be there for my mother. There were times I felt I had helped, but now as I have grown much older I look back on our days in LA and realize how little I really did —how she smiled and thanked me for putting my dishes in the sink while she was cooking my next meal and folding washed clothes.

I envied her kindness and unconditional care —angry that she did not confide in me more and never asked for my help until I was old enough to see it as her greatest strength.

This film follows an old memory my mother and I share reimagined through new understandings —regardless of the power, patience, and strength of the single mother, we all need help.