August 4 portrays the everlasting presence of her grandfather, Enrique’s, spirit. The themes of this film are eternity in death, spiritual presence, and afterlife.

 

The film follows the experiences of my aunt (Dana) and grandma (Apita) being continuously spiritually contacted by Enrique (their father and husband), through mediums, dreams, senses, and visions. The film is composed of two main interview style videos in Spanish (with English subtitles), overlaid with conceptual drawings of what they felt during the experience. As the stories are told, illustrative scenes are overlaid, such as a scene depicting Dana sleeping in bed paired with her audio explaining her dad visiting her dreams. The same style is carried over to Apita’s interview.

 

This video gives a ray of hope to those dealing with the darkness of grief by portraying how death isn’t the end. We as humans are eternal. The only thing that is temporary is this experience of life. It serves as a reminder of a forgotten perspective that death isn’t a scary permanent end but instead a transition to eternity. 

 

Coincidentally, Tamara was born the same day her grandfather died, August 4 (1991/2005), highlighting the cyclical dance between life and death.

 

Finally, a quick “ya”, a click, and a flash of white turn off reality to show only the drawing. This “ya” signifies the way anything can end in a split second. “Ya” translates to “now”.

Now is where every thing and time simultaneously exist. Now holds eternity. ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​