About this Short Film
A culinary of errors, by Halliwell & Van Der Spoel (Australia, 2025), is a short that reflects on confusion, group dynamics and the everyday realities of people with cognitive processing disability. Through imagery and sound it touches on dyslexia, mental health and medical disability, inviting audiences to feel the disorientation and resilience that can accompany these experiences. The film sits comfortably within the Focus on Ability International Short Film Festival, where its subtle and humane approach adds to wider conversations about accessibility, support and recognition. It is a quiet, thoughtful work that honours the abilities and perspectives of people with disability.
Film Details
Country:
Australia
Category:
Open Entrant Short
Genre:
Comedy
Festival Year:
2025
Filmmaker:
Halliwell & Van Der Spoel
Film Transcript
This is the day my life changed forever. Editor, rewind back an hour when I was still just a daydreaming dish pig with a poster of Jamie Oliver above the sink.
Mark and Crisen are never late. Not even fashionably. So when they hadn't arrived by 5:00 p.m., I knew something was up.
Hello, Don. It's Crisen. We had an accident on the way in. Luckily, it's a Tuesday, so there's no bookings. Just put up the closed sign and tape a note to the door saying we'll open at 7:00 p.m., not 5:00 p.m.
I don't think I can do that.
Why not? Surely you're not so illiterate that you can't handle a single line of text.
I'm not illiterate. I'm dyslexic, and I can't close the restaurant because there's a gentleman who's just sat down who looks a lot like that Gerald Heatherington smise, the food critic of Master Chef.
What?
Don't worry, though. Mom's having a good day, so I brought her in with me. I can do the cooking and she can wait the tables.
Give me that phone. Hello, Mark. Crisen must have lost reception. You didn't let your dyslexia stop you from becoming the world's most greatest chef. I'm going to show Mark and Crispen that I've got the heart and determination to be a great chef.
There's nothing like fresh produce straight from an allotment. I must remember to tell your father to dig up his turnips and potatoes for... gone.
Oh no. It's okay. I'll tell him when he gets back. Oh, but guess what? Mark and Crispen aren't going to be in for an hour, so I said we'd hold the fort.
Oh, I'll cook. And how about you wait tables?
Oh, I used to be a waitress. Did I ever tell you that at the old Masonic? Silver service and all that. You'll have to tell me all about it when we get home. Look, there's a gentleman out there. Looks like he could use some of that silver service.
Ah, I'll have the flambéed eggplant for main and the caramelized banana kiss for dessert. Have them brought out together. I've got three restaurants to visit this evening, so I don't have time for sequential service. And I'll have a glass of the Pierre Demar Merlo, the 1998, I think.
No, the '99. Our house burnt down in 1999, a bushfire out the back of Khani. Luckily nobody was hurt, but still. That's a lovely bow tie.
All right, let's do this.
What's the order, Mom?
Oh—yes. Flambéed eggplant and banana kiss and a glass of—uh—Merlo. House Merlo. M—there, was it?
And did you say flambéed eggplant and banana kiss? Oh, that can't be right. Are you sure, Mom?
[Music]
Fiery eggplant and banana together. Definitely. And he's somewhere he has to be, so he's in a hurry. Okay, customer's always right. Let's get to it.
So, here's how it went down. Mom glides to the bar and pours Gerald a glass of grape-flavoured bin juice while I chop the banana and eggplant like a neurotic ninja into the skillet for the flambé. Wo!
I see Mom has plonked herself at Gerald's table and, surprise surprise, they're getting on like a proverbial house on fire. I finish the eggplant and banana kiss with a flourish of edible butterflies.
Crash! Mark and Crispen storm in. Mark wipes out Mom's veggie basket. Crispen gets a five-a-day facial. Mark lunges for the pass. Too late. Mom puts a plate down. Gerald eyes the dish like it might bite first. He sniffs. Mom returns glowing like she's just served Jamie Oliver's nan's lasagna.
Gerald chews. Eyes widen. Revulsion. Regurgitation. No—there it is. The nod.
"Madam's Bistro, an epic curion extravaganza. During my recent visit, I savoured their flambéed eggplant and banana kiss, a dish that epitomises culinary innovation. The eggplant's smoky machéte blends seamlessly with the caramelized banana's sweetness, creating a taste symphony that dances across the palate, showcasing the chef's audacious brilliance. Paired with this marvel was the 1999 Pierre Dear Merlo, whose velvety bouquet of dark cherries and tobacco perfectly complemented the dish's bold flavours. Adding to the allure was the eccentric wait staff, whose delightful quirks elevated the experience. Banaman's Bistro deserves the prestigious Double Chef's hat for their pursuit of excellence and innovation, securing their place as a beacon of gastronomic brilliance. Bravo."
"Jamie Oliver would be so proud of you, love."
"Dad would be so proud of you too, Mom."
Filmmaker
Halliwell & Van Der Spoel is the filmmaker behind this entry. See every Focus on Ability entry from Halliwell & Van Der Spoel.
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