Nov 7, 2023

Family Ties in Carla Morris's "Umm Johannes

Carla (Veldman) Morris' latest short film, Oom Johannes, has been released. A graduate of Sheridan College, Morris is a storyboard artist and independent filmmaker with a background in stop motion.

Oom Johannes' moving story demanded an aesthetic to match, and Veldman delivered. The understated pencil sketches and monochrome palette do little to hide the filmmaker's talent for illustration. Her drawings are minimalist, but they do everything necessary to tell a complete story in only 90 seconds, complete with autobiographical dialogue.

In this short story, Veldman meets her great-uncle during a trip to Holland. When her umm (uncle) Johannes embraces her and whispers the word "Leafie" (darling in English) in her ear, Veldman is transported back to childhood and the incomparable comfort and security of resting on the lap of a loved one.