When Ian returns to New York City for the first time in over a decade with nothing but a backpack, he forms an unexpected bond with a stranger that forces him to reconsider his plans.

Director’s Vision for ‘Sonder’

Mental health is currently in crisis, as one of the largest epidemics facing young people today. In fact, suicide is the second-leading cause of death among people aged 15 to 24 in the U.S (UCLA Health). My team is a collective of young people who have also battled with mental health themselves or alongside loved ones. I want to take control over the narrative of how loneliness and isolation are portrayed on screen, and how other young people can share love and support one another through mental health struggles. With a licensed psychiatrist serving as a consultant and an Executive Producer of the project, I wanted to delve into this issue with accuracy and grace.

Sonder aims to reshift the narrative, focusing on the definition of “sonder” itself: the realization that each random passerby is living a life as vivid and complex as your own, in which you might appear only once. Though our lives are ever-changing, the brief yet unique experiences we share with others, with compassion and empathy, are the ones that can define us forever.