“We were interested in writing about a relationship that was undergoing change,” explained Jess Garton, co-writer and actress in Quicksand. The short film, set on the sunlit shores of Jersey, explores the relationship between Cecilia (Deborah Cornelius) and Albert (Clive Mantle) – two characters loosely inspired by her grandparents – and the adaptations they go through while navigating Alzheimer’s together. “We shot in my grandparents’ house, and the film was inspired by the adjustments they made,” she continued. “Both Ted and I wanted to write a short film that would start conversations about dementia and target the stigma that still surrounds it.”
What’s normal for one person experiencing dementia may not be normal for the next, and the Quicksand team prioritised emphasising this. “Everyone has such unique stories with dementia,” Jess explained, stressing the importance of recognising that Quicksand portrays just one of those narratives. “We would never expect this to represent everybody’s experience,” she said. “The main thing was just that it would make people feel and think, and honour people who are experiencing this every day. If it does that, I’ll be happy.”
The film follows Cecilia and Albert as they face a difficult new chapter in their lives. Jess plays the younger version of Cecilia, who appears in fleeting memories intercut throughout the film. These scenes are tinged with amber warmth and depict a youthful, romantic love – conversations on the beach at golden hour, cozy chats over coffee, whimsical ukulele songs composed across the kitchen counter. The warm, intimate setting and soft costumes enhance the nostalgic tone, capturing a time when life felt easier and more hopeful. “When anybody is young, there’s a kind of zest for life about them,” said Jess, reflecting on the nature of these memories. “The younger versions of the characters convey that love and youthfulness – the idea that they have their whole lifetime ahead of them, with so much to look forward to.”
Quicksand powerfully contrasts idealism with realism – the gap between how we imagine our future and how it actually unfolds. “We all have this romantic idea that you’ll find someone and grow old together,” Jess said. Quicksand explores one possible version of that future, offering a raw portrayal of the challenges it might bring. Cecilia is still deeply in love with Albert – she smiles at him through the garden window, and is moved by his retelling of childhood memories, even if she’s heard them many times before. Yet the film doesn’t shy away from showing the lows: the worry, fatigue, and the disorienting pain of a partner who is present one moment and absent the next.
“Albert is sparky – he has a fun personality,” Jess noted, “and that comes through in moments. We wanted to reflect how dementia changes the nature of their interactions. Albert’s character comes and goes rather than remains constant.” Before dementia, you’re ‘yourself’ all the time. With it, some days are good, others less so. “That’s the nature of it,” Jess explained. “You have times when it feels normal, and times when it doesn’t. That’s part of what we wanted to show – the ebb and flow of their life.”
The set design subtly reflects the shifts Albert and Cecilia experience. Over time, more post-it notes appear in the kitchen, with pictures of the couple labelled and taped around the house. “It’s a very common experience,” Jess said, clearly drawing from personal memories. “It often starts with things like tea – ‘Where are the tea bags?’ or ‘Where’s the coffee?’ You start with these, and as time goes on, they build up.” The evolving home environment – introducing wall handles and a raised chair for Albert – mirrors their efforts to create a space that offers more mental and physical stability.
Depictions of Alzheimer’s usually centre around a present struggle – the disjointed fight of living with a disease. While Quicksand highlights this, what makes the film so moving is its undercurrent of hope. The arrival of professional carers gives Cecilia a small pocket of time for herself – space to rediscover who she is and begin the next chapter of her life. “Cecilia’s older self is going through something quite life-changing,” Jess said. “In a way, she’s lost a part of herself, too. Quicksand is about reclaiming that, and her process of understanding herself better.”
People often talk about young people ‘finding themselves,’ as though self-discovery is a one-time event. Quicksand challenges that notion. “I think there are multiple points in life where you rediscover yourself,” Jess said. “Cecilia is going through one of those moments – much later in life. Despite the circumstances, I think the film ends with a sense of hope.”
Quicksand is supported by ArtHouse Jersey, Music in Action, Soroptimist International Jersey, and numerous people who supported the crowdfunding campaign. It is also in association with Dementia Jersey.
