Memento Mori tells the story of a post-mortem photographer during the Victorian age. He receives his latest subject, a recently deceased young woman. While methodically describing his actions to prepare the body to take its last portrait, the photographer begins to realize that the deceased woman has a last will, and her soul will not rest in peace until she achieves it.

The animation for this short film is very strong— it is close to perfection with its fluid and unobtrusive images. It has a series of hidden messages that are clear but at the same time are free to be interpreted by whoever is watching. Something curious that happens throughout the short plot is how the photographer’s work is frustrated by the supernatural effects that lead the photographer to think there is still life inside the woman. This can be interpreted as an allegory of the interruptions that we usually have in life when something or someone unexpectedly intervenes in our plans.

I wouldn’t mind seeing a feature film developed from the main idea of Memento Mori. Although it could turn out to be very similar in aesthetics to those shown in the short-lived TV series Penny Dreadful with a plot development that could resemble The Woman In Black, I think they could have more terrain to cover implementing other tricks to psychologically disturb the viewers— not to mention it already has a few that disturb the peace, for now.

Besides being the newest memory to haunt you in your dreams, Memento Mori has a beautiful and direct message for those who can be too selfish for long periods of time they tend ignore what happens around them and the strangers who’s lives can be changed with a kind gesture.

10 OUT OF 10 PHOTOGRAPHS