A grieving man tries to grow an oak tree from the ashes of his dead father.
SOIL is used with permission from Sam Lembeck. Learn more at samlembeck.com.
Jay recently lost his father. Despondent and stuck in his grief, he comes up with the idea of trying to grow a tree from his dad's ashes, inspired by a new kind of burial where a dead loved one is put in a biodegradable pod in the earth and buried in the ground with a tree.
He goes to a local gardening center seeking materials, resources and help in his project, though he tries to hide exactly what he's doing at first. But when a kind worker learns what's behind Jay's seemingly quixotic quest, Jay begins to see a new horizon beyond his grief and sorrow.
Directed and written by Sam Lembeck, this wonderfully empathetic short dramedy has an undeniably sad premise, taking Jay's grief as the starting point. Though the subject matter is heavy, the film's gently humorous tone and measured storytelling offer moments of levity, as Jay's sorrow gets slowly and honestly transformed into something honest, true and beautifully life-affirming.
Through empathetic writing and a softly sunny visual look and feel, Jay's journey about grief becomes intertwined with a tale of gardening and nurturing new life, each narrative strand adding to the resonance of the other. Any aspiring "plant parent" will understand Jay's bewilderment with the ins and outs of growing plants, and he constantly (and sometimes grumpily) enlists the help of cheerful and sympathetic garden center worker Shahida for advice, knowledge and tips.
At first, Jay has a hard time getting his tree to grow, but as his friendship with Shahida grows, along with his plants, he starts to enjoy the pleasure and satisfaction that comes with gardening, as well as the closer connections he has with Shahida and his neighbors. Like the rest of the film, actor Jason Tam's performance finds a fine balance between the comical and the sorrowful, finding gentle laughs in Jay's foibles with growing his tree while maintaining an open, vulnerable line to his very real grief.
In many ways, such a balancing act is the true heart of SOIL, which resonates with such warm-heartedness and compassion as a film. Grief, death and endings are unavoidable aspects of the human experience, and our suffering from these can feel heavy and even hopeless at times. But it is balanced by the part of life that creates, nurtures and grows, especially with intention. It's a delicate balance to find and sometimes feels impossible. But when we do find it, it brings enough peace and acceptance to move forward with a grateful heart.
Thank you for this. My parents were creamated.I have their ashes in my family home. I was their guardian. Still am. They both wanted to be together..buried in the White Mountains at our family camp. They wanted a blue spruce planted right next to them. There are rules about ashes.. What counts is a parent wants. The son cared very much. He honored his dad. Precious. Best film for confused and greiving adult children...dealing with death of parents. I hope you get an award for this film. Laura from NH
There weren't any rules with my father's ashes when I was a kid. We had to decide how to split them between us and what to do with them. Cremated*, not creamated. Grieving*.
Wow. This hit me hard and by surprise. What a beautiful film. The story was simple and complete, the relationships vivid and real, the characters whole. Great photography. Loved the music. Well done.
I collect ideas and inspiration for ways to honor the memories of my father. I need ways I can stay connected to him through finding a place for his ashes that sets him free. Thank you for a tasteful and loving story.
Happy Earth Day! 🌎
Ah yes, that’s why they timed it today ❤
Yay!
Jason Tam is literally so good at making me feel things 😭🥹
Loved this! Enjoyed the actors, the script, the direction -- lovely work all around.
What a beautiful, and surprisingly funny for the subject matter, film! So simple in nature, yet deep in meaning.
This film helped me with my own grief about my Dad. It is simple heartfelt and beautifully done.
Strange but eccentricity available. This film and the Gardening lady helped to bring closure to as traumatic loss in his life. Now, he feels positive and that is good! Although at first i perceived the strangeness of the behavior, I saw the positives of the entire scene of the feelings of loss. Yes, i really liked this! 🎄 Dad, lives on! _____
Thank you, this was a beautiful film ❤
Thanks!
What a beautiful film 😀
Excellent acting and story. My favorite Omeleto yet, and I've seen dozenS!
Lovely short film. Grief can take different forms, but it's common that in difficult times we find comfort in the smallest and simplest of things. This reminded me of the film "Pieces of a woman".
I actually have the wish for my ashes to be placed in a 'Bio-pod' , written in my last will and testament, my family can choose the tree and location........I hope they don't have the same🌱 cultivation problem 😂......I'm ok with whatever happens I thought the Lisa Loeb song would get that oak tree sprouting, but in the end Jay grew in other ways and found his own peace..... Have a Lovely Week fellow Omeleto fans Stay Safe Forever & Always ☯🎶🌞🌻🦋✨🕊☮🧡
Although at the end that seedling was planted way to deep, it was a real Oak Tree growing👍
Too* deep
Love it so well acted and shot!!! Awesome!!!!
Bone meal is just what a plant needs to grow a good root system. This idea is a real life thing and I’m sure the tree will grow amazingly. If not we’ll give you a full refund.
I remember reading a reddit discussion about this. Ashes need a pH adjustment, and you should definitely start with a sapling.
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Needed that today!! Great film!
SUCH A GOOD FILM
For once an Omeleto film is actually wholesome, instead of people just believing that it is.
So appreciate that!
@@eugenetswong And this :)
@@samlem210 I'm glad that you appreciate it. Thank you and the entire team for sharing this creation with us. Thank you for interacting with us in the comment section. Congratulations on finishing the project and the success.
Well done Sam!!!
Great film, but with one tiny error. Burying the acorn over a foot into the ground is usually far too deep for it to start growing.
I was thinking it, you said it.
Totally! I actually germinated a few acorns when we made this and did it just under the top of the soil. The last shot is actually an acorn growing over the course of a week. We filmed it in my garage over 7 days (once it started growing - we germinated it on a windowsill and then once it started growing we brought it to a big raised bed with a big light).
@@samlem210 Thanks for the trivia. I had a gut feeling that the growth was filmed indoors, because it would be easier to control the filming.
I hope he starts going out with the sweet flower woman now that he is ready to move on. Beautiful film, in all its simplicity.
Beautiful.
Thank you!
"You Say..." had me rolling 😂
Well done! Really beautiful story!
Absolutely beautiful!
this definitely moved me
That's the actress from "Baby Daddy"! She's good, isn't she?
Great singing
That was beautiful.❤
Wonderful! 🌱
Love this !
I love this this channel never disappoints
That was a beautiful story. Thank you.
I’ve always loved these films ❤ thank you
Last week we put the ashes of my mum and dad under the magnolia bush that he planted twenty years ago.
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So beautiful! Two grandparents of mine just passed. Both burned, one wants to dissolve in the ocean..
LOVE IT!
Loved the story . My wife wants to be buried as a pod.
That was beautiful.
so touching, great acting, shot beautifully!!!
thank you.
This was so great! Beautifully executed concept :)
oh and by the way, you need to watch until the end, that's not CGI!
Plant some arugula seeds in there. Then you can snack with your dad, while you sing.
That soil would be too acidic. It's a coniferous forest 😮
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I'm cutting onions😭
SAME!!!
How are they able to come up with these so fast, it is amazing!! ❤❤
He must get dozens of submissions each day, and he probably doesn't have enough time to show them all at 1 per day.
I appreciate the sentiment, but his gardening skills could use some improvement. He tends to act without consulting, often resulting in mistakes. The latest blunder was planting that tree in the wrong location. Pine trees, which are closely spaced, are not suitable for an oak tree, which requires ample space. As an Asian, this wouldn't provide favorable feng shui for his father's spirit-it's unfortunate.
SUCH A GOOD FILM
Thank you!