My Grandfather's Demons

Rosa's professional life as a highly respected industrial designer is marked by precision and attention to detail. Her days are meticulously planned, every movement calculated to maximize efficiency and output. However, Rosa's carefully constructed world is suddenly disrupted upon the death of her influential grandfather, Marcelino. As she navigates the aftermath of his passing, Rosa is forced to confront a neglected side of her family's history, one that is in stark contrast to the perfectionism that defines her. Marcelino was a man of great passion, whose life was marked by a fierce creative spirit and a tempestuous personality. Rosa's mother had frequently spoken about her father's penchant for storytelling, his deep love for the countryside, and his unrelenting passion for art. These memories had always seemed like fragments of a larger, more complex narrative, but Rosa never felt inclined to explore them in-depth. As the family gathers to pay their respects to Marcelino, Rosa is struck by the depth of her grandfather's presence. The room is filled with the vibrant colors and textures that defined his artistic expressions, a stark contrast to the sterile, high-tech world of industrial design that Rosa inhabits. The guests who attend the funeral are a mix of people from varied backgrounds and professions, each with their own stories and memories of Marcelino's life. Following the funeral, Rosa receives an unexpected visit from her estranged aunt, Sofia. Sofia, who was younger than Rosa's mother, had always been close to Marcelino, and it becomes clear that she harbors secrets about the family's history. The conversations between Rosa and Sofia are a series of encounters that disrupt the carefully constructed facade of Rosa's life. Sofia shares tales of Marcelino's youth, of the family's struggles during World War II, and of the difficulties faced by her own mother following the loss of her husband. These stories, which Rosa had only heard from the occasional mention by her mother, begin to humanize her grandfather in ways she never thought possible. For Rosa, Marcelino is no longer just a figure of local legend but a multidimensional person, full of flaws and contradictions. As Rosa learns more about her grandfather, she starts to see parallels between his life and her own. Both Marcelino and Rosa are driven by their passion for their respective arts, whether it's Marcelino's love for art or Rosa's devotion to industrial design. The pursuit of perfection is crucial to both, but Rosa begins to realize that the fixation on precision and control has constrained her own potential. One of the pivotal moments for Rosa is when she stumbles upon a studio hidden away in the attic of her family's home. The space, filled with remnants of Marcelino's artistic endeavors, holds an otherworldly power that transports Rosa back to a simpler time. For the first time, she begins to see the beauty in imperfection and the importance of embracing the unpredictable nature of life. The journey is not without its challenges. Rosa must contend with the resistance of her own colleagues, who view her new-found interest in art as a diversion from her professional responsibilities. Her loved ones, particularly her mother, are initially hurt by Rosa's increasing detachment from her carefully constructed life. However, Rosa ultimately finds the strength to break free from the constraints of her old world, taking the first steps toward embracing a more authentic existence. The story of Rosa and Marcelino becomes an examination of the complexities of human relationships and the importance of embracing our messy, beautiful lives. Through the intricate narrative of "My Grandfather's Demons", the film delves into the intricacies of intergenerational connections, the power of art to transform lives, and the long-overdue reckoning between Rosa and the family legacy that has been waiting for her for so long.