"heart attack," directed and shot by Athená Polymenis, is a short film which observes how a daughters upset is mitigated by a jar of hearts - also known as a heart attack. The film was an assignment for RTF 343, Advanced Narrative, which urged the students to focus on a specific moment rather than creating an entire story. Polymenis was inspired by what she calls "heart attacks.
"Heart attacks are something the kids used to do at the sleep away summer camp I was a counselor at," Polymenis describes.
"It sounds a little morose but, it's actually really sweet!" Polymenis elaborates that within the camp, there was a class that encouraged the campers to do kind things everyday. Some examples Polymenis gives are writing motivational quotes on mirrors, leaving kind letters, and other thoughtful gestures to brighten ones day. She describes that heart attacks were one of her favorites,
"the class would pick someone every day to give a heart attack to. You cut out loads of these hearts and write all these sweet, personal notes on them and totally throw them all over the recipients space! They're so impactful that I actually kept all of the heart attacks the campers gave me!"
This concept of "heart attacks" inspired Polymenis to find a moment for her protagonist that surrounded the "heart attack." She highlighted that the heart attacks are meant to bring joy, and when looked at a while after they've been given - it's an entirely knew experience. Inspired by this joy, the film follows a disheartened girl and the turn of her emotions as she reads through the "heart attack" her family has written for her. Her mood is almost completely turned when she reaches a heart signed "Mom."
This last heart prompts the girl to call someone, who that someone might be is left up to interpretation. Polymenis notes that she didn't want the audience to feel a particular way about how the girl was feeling, or what it could mean when phone line comes up empty. Please enjoy the remaining stills from "heart attack."
