This is a story about a woman named Sarika, my mother – “the lady who records”… “Addicted” to documenting her life in photos and video, and to the memories they bring up for her, over and over again. This is a personal, Israeli and human story told through the dialogues with her daughters and grandchildren. And it shares the human phenomena of – the reduction of memory and sometimes even its loss. Sarika teaches us to document the memories, which give meaning to our lives and to the future generations.

Review by Julie C. Sheppard:

The feature, Sarika, is a true walk down memory lane. It is a joy to meet this senior Israeli woman as she reveals a multitude of archival materials she has collected over the years. The production is a labour of love, as her family and friends come together to reminisce about many years of experiences and familiar locations. While Sarika initially acknowledges that her short-term memory is diminished due to aging, it is her consistent effort to write down her thoughts and feelings and her long-term habit of labelling all her photos from her past that provide her with excitement. 

It is particularly touching when she is shown with younger members of her family and imparts her wisdom and memories to them. It is also sweet to hear her sing familiar songs with some of her relatives, friends and neighbours. Another moving element is getting to witness an interview with her and her three siblings who are all still alive and thriving and living in the same area together – – it is lovely seeing old photos of the four of them when they were all young and vibrant, despite some socio-political tensions of the time. 

The cinematography is fabulous when it captures expressions of the various people she meets, in addition to zooming in on her face to see how she reacts when she hears stories from those she knew long ago. The subtle soundtrack never overwhelms – – a gentle acoustic guitar strums below this project of moving sentiment. Intimate moments are sometimes painful to watch as participants relay how much they miss their loved ones who have long since passed on, but the project also provides the viewer with optimism. Sarika promises to provide further insights in a future book and walk down yet another path of memory and revelation.