Digital Squirrel Studios

Logline

After her parents' death, a young woman is determined to pass on a family tradition to her daughter born abroad. There is just one catch - it involves getting her hands on a live carp on a Christmas Eve in the Netherlands.

Synopsis

It is Christmas Eve in The Hague, Netherlands. A young mother with Slovak roots takes her Dutch-born daughter on a frantic quest for a live carp, determined to pass on her family’s holiday tradition. What begins as a simple search quickly turns into a chaotic and humorous adventure through Dutch harbors and canals, seafood stores, and cobbled streets. A short film about family, cultural roots, and the messy yet loving ways we carry heritage forward.

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Director's Statement

Carp Diem explores the messy reality of keeping traditions alive in a new culture. As a parent raising children in an international family, I know how impossible it can feel to hold onto your roots while letting new traditions in.

In Carp Diem, a mother embarks on an impossible hunt for a live fish, convinced it is the only way to preserve her family’s roots. The quest is frantic, absurd, and hilarious, yet beneath the chaos lies a deeper truth about understanding each other, recognizing what matters, and, above all, passing on love.

This story is for families navigating the delicate balance of honoring the past while embracing new ways of being together.

Tone & Feel

Carp Diem is shot in a natural style. The camera stays close to the mother and child, capturing intimate moments. Cool winter tones shape streets, harbors, and shops. Warm pops of color (a goldfish, a scarf, a lamp, a face) add charm and whimsy to the chaos. The film feels grounded, real, yet playful.