LEENA PENDHARKAR Filmmaker Interview — Facilitating Family in Film

(PTP) In many of your films, there is a strong focus on family structures.  Why?

(LP): Family relationships have been a source of both stress and joy for me, and where many of my questions come from as an artist. I really enjoy exploring complex relationships and I do believe our relationships with our families say so much about us. There is pain and joy in the complicated nature of family dynamics.

Coming from a first-generation Indian American family, I am constantly exploring that experience — what does it mean to be an Asian American immigrant? How do we fit into American culture, and what does it mean for families? These questions come up for me a lot and I continue to explore them in my filmmaking.

When and how did you originally get the idea for the mother-daughter dynamic you portray in your latest film, Awaken?   

My husband's mom has Alzheimer's. It's such a hard disease, especially when a mother has it. You lose your support system and a large part of your own history and self. I think in many Asian communities there is shame in addressing mental health and the struggles around it.

My mother-in-law had this period in the illness where she would randomly bring up things from the far past, which fascinated me. The brain and our memories are just such a key part of who we are. I wanted to explore this in a film and the impact of having a moment where this woman, Rakhi, is having a hard time, and her mom provides her with a tiny moment of awakening. It was a dream to work with Parminder Nagra, she really brought so much reality to the character.