Ross Kileen & Absestos
Irish Director and Producer Ross Killeen released the documentary "Don’t Forget to Remember" this year. In the film, he explores, in a highly original way, artist Asbestos’ battle with Alzheimer’s. The documentary premiered at this year’s Dublin Film Festival, where it was awarded the Audience Choice Award and received an Honourable Mention. The film was produced by his own company, Motherland, in collaboration with The Arts Council.
What was the production process like for the documentary? What did the collaboration with Asbestos involve?
"The collaboration with Asbestos goes back a few years. In 2022, Asbestos was doing a mural on O’Connell Street, and we reconnected after quite some time. During our conversation, he told me about his mum’s Alzheimer’s diagnosis and how he and his family were coming to terms with it. I shared my own family’s story. My mum, Patricia, passed away in 2019 after a long struggle with Dementia. We kept the conversations going, which led to discussions about a project we might do together— a film that could provoke conversation around this difficult subject. With Narayan Van Maele behind the camera and Vincent McEntee editing, we explored various visual styles, blending mediums such as ARRI Alexa, Mini DV, 16mm, and archive footage to create a unique tapestry of images that explored the fragility of memory and the effects memory loss can have on families."
Could you elaborate on the use of art and animation as part of the narrative structure? How was this artistic decision made?
"Once Asbestos and I began to collaborate, we decided to engage the techniques from Asbestos’s 2022 exhibition. This included taking 15 photos from Asbestos’s family history, drawing them on blackboards, and then placing them around the city, allowing the public to alter and change them. Through art, particularly the poignant manifestation of memories on chalkboards, which simultaneously serve as symbolic representations of the Alzheimer’s condition, we invited audiences to immerse themselves in a narrative that transcends traditional storytelling, offering a unique perspective on the human experience. For the animation sections in the film, Asbestos cut up copies of old family photos and altered them, destroying and rebuilding them over and over again. I wanted these sections to thread through the film and deteriorate as the film progressed. Asbestos’s photographic animation adds a layer of depth and introspection to the storytelling of this disease."
What is the documentary about? What themes related to Alzheimer’s does it explore?
"'Don’t Forget to Remember' is emotive, personal, and artistic in its approach. It explores the concept of memory and the self and how it relates to the personal connections with those living with Alzheimer’s. By exploring a topic very close to our hearts, the film opens an honest conversation about the delicate nature of memory. Through Asbestos’s artistic process, the film explores the elements of disintegration and destruction that Alzheimer’s brings, but also how we are able to hold onto collective memories of loved ones."
Who were your production partners? What was the collaboration with The Arts Council like? What role did they play?
"The film was produced by my production company, Motherland. Originally, the idea was for the story to be depicted in a short film or an art installation. But the Arts Council grant came up for a feature documentary, and we decided to put a proposal together. It all happened fairly quickly. Our proposal was approved, and we faced the challenge of making a film in time for a premiere at the Dublin Film Festival in February 2024."
What are the distribution and circulation plans for the film? Is there a schedule of festivals and trade shows lined up?
"We are self-distributing 'Don’t Forget to Remember'. The film was released theatrically across Ireland on 6th September and was screened at the QFT in Belfast. We hope to bring the film to the UK and beyond very soon."
Do you believe the film has the potential to spark dialogues and debates around the condition?
"'It is a film about family, the fragility of memory, and art as healing. Most of all, I think it’s a love story. For me, caring for someone in sickness and in health is the definition of true love. We want to provoke conversation with this film and celebrate our memories, as they can never be destroyed. I believe this film can be a focal point for instigating difficult conversations about Alzheimer’s between family members affected by the disease. We embarked on a mission to shed light on the profound impact of Alzheimer’s, not just on those diagnosed but also on their loved ones."
What do you think about the current state of documentary film in Ireland? What are its biggest challenges, and what kinds of stories do you think it should be telling?
"There are many interesting stories being told here in Ireland. We tend to outperform compared to our size when it comes to film internationally. There have been many recent successes with film, and documentaries are no different. The main challenge is driving audiences to cinemas for documentaries. Post-COVID, I think a lot of people got used to staying in and getting their documentary fix from streaming platforms, so we have a job to do to bring back the theatrical documentary experience. There’s great advice in one of my films that came from the great Irish singer Damien Dempsey, who in turn received this nugget of wisdom from the great Christy Moore. It was about writing songs and how the song doesn’t come from you, it comes through you. I think this is the best advice for any documentarian. The stories you tell can, but don’t always, come from you. Let them come through you from a good place, and you will tell an honest story."
