The night before her high school subject selection is due, 16-year-old Lani must confront her tired and overworked mother, Alba, about studying music instead of chemistry at school. Having agreed to do chemistry at the bequest of Alba, Lani puts off the conversation until the last minute. On the final night before Lani's selection is due, Alba is pinned with the responsibility of fixing a major work crisis leaving Lani to weigh up what's more important; her desire to pursue a passion or her duties as a daughter.
Genre: Coming of Age, Family Drama, Student
Runtime: 14:59 minutes
Director's Statement:
A story about the pressures young people face in a time where identity is more defining than ever. Mute started as a simple acknowledgement of the children that feel trapped under the weight of expectation placed on them by their parents. Through the process of making, this film grew and flourished into a full-blown love letter to hardworking Filipino-Australian mothers. This film explores how they relate to their daughters by commenting on the cultural differences between them.