Serafima Serafimova
The Portuguese word ‘saudade’ describes a deep, nostalgic longing for someone or something from the past – a sadness born from the certainty it will never return, blended with happiness because it once existed – and it perfectly captures what Merry Grandmas! stirred in me. Watching the short, I was transported back to my early childhood in Bulgaria, when my parents would ship me off to my grandparents’ home on the other side of the country for the entire summers (don’t judge – you did not have me as your child). I used to dread it. Now, with my grandparents gone, all that remains is saudade – the same heartwarming ache that Merry Grandmas! brings to life through its delicate storytelling and beautiful craft.
Produced by Soyuzmultfilm, the legendary Moscow studio founded in 1936, Merry Grandmas! is Natalia Mirzoyan’s (Chinti) latest short, following her acclaimed Five Minutes to Sea (2018). The eight-minute animation has charmed audiences at over 30 festivals, and it is easy to see why. Trained in both art and sociology in Armenia and Russia, Mirzoyan has a talent for creating animated worlds brimming with personality and warmth. Using 2D animation, she brings every expression of her characters and every carefully observed detail of their surroundings to life, while injecting the narrative with an emotional punch. The result is playful, cosy and magical, leaving you, the viewer, wrapped in a fuzzy blanket of nostalgia that you won’t want to leave.
“It’s a film about the inner kid in all of us”
The story follows Masha, a young girl reluctantly spending New Year’s Eve at her grandmother’s apartment in central Saint Petersburg. Expecting a dull evening with elderly people she thinks she has nothing in common with, Masha soon discovers that her grandmother and her friends have a whole world of surprises waiting for her. Merry Grandmas! captures the rhythms of these badass baboushkas – their cherished rituals, playful arguments, and moments of affection – portraying them not as frail or passive, but as strong, savvy, and delightfully silly women who know exactly how to enjoy life. The kind of people who shape memories and stay in them forever.
“It’s a film about the inner kid in all of us,” Mirzoyan told S/W. She went on to explain that the story was inspired by a personal experience. “I was touched by the story of my friend’s daughter, who was left for a New Year celebration with her Grandmother. I was thinking about the connection of generations and time, which flies so fast. I wanted to make a film that makes people laugh, but also reflect on how quickly time slips away.”
“We made the film in After Effects with the backgrounds drawn by hand” – Mirzoyan discussing the production of her short
There’s something in the unassuming simplicity of Mirzoyan’s style that allows us to engage directly with the world and characters she conjures up. The visuals have a flat, picture-book quality that suits the story perfectly.At first glance, you might expect the thick black outlines, exaggerated brushstrokes, and blocky, textured colours to bring a stiffness or lifelessness to the film – but the simplicity is deceptive. Every facial expression and physical action has been carefully considered and executed, making the characters appear unmistakably human and relatable. For me, though, the real magic comes from the world these characters inhabit.
Cleverly observed details are everywhere: the graffiti in the lift, kitsch porcelain figurines on the mantlepiece and the crochet doily covering the telly. It is as if each object has been plucked straight from my own childhood memories, and if feels wonderfully familiar and comforting. I remember keying my name on the wall outside my grandparents’ front door, the thrill of leaving a permanent mark in a space that felt entirely mine. I also remember the fragile little trophies and ornaments I was told never to touch, and the joy of playing with them when no one was around.
Watching Merry Grandmas! brought all of that rushing back – the wonder, the mischief, and the love for a place I called home for three months of the year, and one which now only exists in my mind. And yet, the film’s charm isn’t tied to my experiences alone;you don’t need the same childhood to feel its magic. With its gentle pace and stunning visuals, Merry Grandmas! doesn’t force its meaning, but allows the story to seep in, leaving a bit more warmth during the cold winter months and a reminder to create new memories of your own – ones that could live for generations to come.