The Yellow Umbrella: A Story of Memory and Hope
We all have memories – some pleasant and some painful. We sometimes come upon bad times. Memories often make them more painful. Occasionally a memory awakens in us the desire to possess something. It is not because the thing is something great or very costly. It becomes valuable to us through its association with our memory.
A yellow umbrella may look a very trivial thing for you. It is not something you very much wish to own. It has no particular attraction for you. Your parents have bought many umbrellas for you since you began schooling. Some of them were quite colourful and attractive. A yellow umbrella had nothing special in your life. But for Joseph, a boy from Palmas in Brazil, a yellow umbrella was something special.
The Story of Joseph
We learn about Joseph from two Brazilian film makers – Helena Hilario and Mario Pece. The story starts with Hilario getting a phone call from her sister. Her sister had been on a visit to an orphanage in Palmas with Christmas gifts for the children. The children there were happy at seeing the toys they were given.
But she noticed a boy with a sad face. He showed no interest in the toys. She went to him and asked him what he would like to have as a gift. He said, “A yellow umbrella.” Hilario’s sister was surprised. But she soon knew the story from the boy.
A Memory Etched in Rain
It was not long ago. The boy was among a group of refugees who had arrived in the country in an open boat. There were many like him all over the world – running away from their countries for fear or thrown out as unwanted people. It was a rainy day. His father opened a big yellow umbrella and protected him from the rain. They were going to an orphanage.
His father left him at the orphanage. That was the only way out for him. He had been without work for a long time. The only hope of survival for his son was to grow in the orphanage.
The boy watched as his father walked away. Raindrops were bouncing off the yellow umbrella. That was the last time he saw his father. The yellow umbrella remained in his memory. He hoped that the yellow umbrella will one day unite him with his family.
From Memory to Art: The Film "Umbrella"
Hilario was impressed by the boy’s story. She thought of making the boy’s painful memory into a work of art, a record of empathy and hope. It took 10 years for Hilario and her associate Mario Pece to produce the animated film “Umbrella”. It was their first film as a duo. It was released in 2019. It received an Oscar nomination and won recognition at several film festivals.
Umbrella is a film that can both entertain and enlighten grownups and children alike. It is a story of love and hope. It will keep our faith in the value of human understanding and responsibility.
Word Meanings
- pleasant
- happy, സന്തോഷമുള്ള
- occasionally
- at times, ഇടക്കിടക്ക്
- awakens
- raises, ഉണർത്തുന്നു
- trivial
- of no value or importance, വിലയില്ലാത്ത
- mournful
- sad, ദുഃഖിച്ചിരിക്കുക
- downcast
- looking downwards, താഴേക്കു നോക്കിയിരിക്കുക
- survival
- living, existence, ജീവിതം
- bouncing
- jumping, ചാടുക
- etched
- written, drawn, എഴുതുക, വരക്കുക
- empathy
- sympathy, സഹതാപം
- duo
- two, രണ്ട്
- enlighten
- teach, inform, മനസ്സിലാക്കിക്കൊടുക്കുക
- alike
- equally, ഒരേപോലെയുള്ള
