Edinburgh International Film Festival 2026
Amaretti
Stacy Martin
Genre: Drama
Venue: EIFF @ Cineworld
Festival: Edinburgh International Film Festival
Low Down
A beautifully layered short, supported with clever visuals and the early quietness of Dementia.
Review
Double Billed with ‘Queen at Sea’, I reckoned this film had something to do with Dementia. This was confirmed with the fuzzy visuals, giving an almost nostalgic effect of childhood TV Screens. We meet Lennie (Diana Quick) in a dingy and drab office room, sat across the table from therapist, Lola (Emily Beecham), who is telling her about the crimes of her son.
The camera spins around them along with weird kaleidoscopic angles subverting and distorting the screen. Something feels off. It’s not clear what, until Lola mentions to Lenny that she doesn’t think Lenny has Dementia.
This is the writing and directing debut of actress, Stacy Martin. Its clear that Martin has a strong appreciation for subtitles and teasing the audience with breadcrumbs. For a moment you start to believe that Lennie doesn’t actually have dementia and you become unsure on where we are being led.
Yellow sunflowers seem to be looped through the film. Reminding me of the sunflower lanyard, for those with hidden disabilities. And this is what her Dementia seems to be, hidden, even from her. Lennie is half way through listening to Lola talk when she walks away in a daze. Prompting Lola to deliver a humorous line, “I didn’t think I was boring.”
This is a gentle short film with a harrowing truth. It poses the question of “how long can you hide Dementia from yourself and others?” And “is there ever a bad time for an Amaretti?”
