“Granny O’Grimm’s Sleeping Beauty” is an Irish short film that was released in 2008. In the film, Granny tells the story of “Sleeping Beauty” from the perspective of an elderly fairy who seeks revenge for not being invited to the Royal Christening. It features Kathleen O'Rourke and was directed by Nicky Phelan.
This movie was the winner of Best Animation at the Irish
Film and Television Awards. It was also an official selection at the Palm
Springs International Film Festival, the Galway Film Festival, and the
International Short Film Festival Tinklai.
The film may come across as scary to some, especially young viewers.
It is a retelling of “Sleeping Beauty” with a bit of a sinister twist. The story
grabs viewers right away with the passion with which Granny is telling it. Like
many (O’)Grimm fairy tales, it begins with childbirth, which is a common trope.
Despite the film seemingly being scary and only six minutes
long, it has a strong message about being elderly in this world. Oftentimes,
the elderly get left out of things, especially when they have certain health
issues. They feel jealous of those who are able to live their lives without any
aches, pains, or medical problems. The elderly citizens have contributed to
their communities and families, only to be left out by those they love. They often
crave days out, but are excluded for a host of reasons.
However, these factors lead to the elderly loneliness
epidemic. Older adults struggle to get out of the house, and even if they are
able to, many people exclude them in favor of younger people. They are not given a
choice as to whether they can go to events. Those in nursing homes are even
more neglected and are not visited by loved ones.
Granny tells this story to her granddaughter, serving as a
word of caution and maybe even hope that her granddaughter would show her
respect in the future. While this was done with a story that scared the child,
hopefully the child will remember and be sure to include her grandmother at important
events throughout her life.
Overall, this movie may seem a bit scary, but the film has some commentary about how elderly people often feel left out and excluded. This film serves as a reminder to show love and respect for our elders who have done so much for us and our communities.
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