SYNOPSIS
An elderly, recently-widowed Indian woman receives a scam call, but the power flips on who is actually doing the scheming.
DIRECTOR’S STATEMENT
We wanted to make a movie about those rampant scam calls that target immigrants and the elderly. They befriend their prey over the phone and speak their native language to swindle money. But we wanted to show a strong elderly Indian woman who recognizes the scheme and is able to flip the power. She isn’t vulnerable or susceptible, and it’s a narrative we don’t get to see for that resilient age group.
Additionally, she gains confidence through the call and her grief from her husband’s recent passing subsides. She starts as a recluse, but through the film, she is able to accept and finally get the courage to step outside again. Additionally, to account for the ongoing pandemic, Is This Mrs. Varma? was shot in a contained location with one actress.