Over the course of an evening, young couple Lauren and Jim tend to the daily routines that support and sustain them. In a rural area of New York State, Lauren works as a teacher’s assistant while Jim, in place of a job, designs a backpack that he dreams of one day bringing to market. Despite the safety and comfort of their home, external pressures quietly seep into their thoughts. As the weight of their feelings bear down, Lauren and Jim must lean on each other for support.

Self-Contained Enclosure depicts a healthy, functioning relationship between two people who support each other and deal with real-life issues regarding money worries, job struggles and their commitment to one another. Rather than being a source of conflict, their relationship models teamwork as the basis for two people tackling life’s obstacles together.

Director’s Vision for ‘Self-Contained Enclosure’

Daily routines shape our lives just as much, if not more, than any big accomplishment or
milestone that might look good on paper. Like a healthy layer of topsoil, the creature comforts
of home and the support of loved ones can provide us with a foundational layer from which all
else is possible. Self-Contained Enclosure depicts a relationship between two people dealing
with money worries, job struggles, and their commitment to one another. It was important to
me in this film to showcase a relationship that models teamwork as the basis for two people
tackling life’s obstacles together.