The most powerful stories are often the ones we don't notice.

Created as my final university project, Just A Mum explores the invisible realities of early motherhood. After watching my sister navigate life with a newborn, I became interested in the experiences that often go unseen. Not the milestones we celebrate, but the quiet moments of exhaustion, isolation and the gradual loss of identity that can accompany becoming a parent.

With no dialogue, the film relies entirely on visual storytelling. The central character's missing head becomes a recurring metaphor for identity, while everyday routines reveal the physical and emotional demands that are often overlooked. Every creative decision was made to communicate an experience rather than explain it, inviting the audience to recognise the unseen labour of motherhood for themselves.

The film also reflects on the pressures of modern parenting, where social media and an endless stream of conflicting advice can leave mothers feeling more disconnected than ever. At its core, Just A Mum is about empathy, encouraging conversations around an experience that is too often reduced to expectation rather than reality.

The project was recognised with a Highly Commended award at Creative Conscience, Best Student Film at the New Cinema Film Festival in Lisbon, and official selections at The Smalls in London and the Festival of Animation Berlin.