Alcoholic Fran Katz has hit rock bottom in spectacular fashion. Now begrudgingly sober, Fran thinks she has it all figured out as she tries to rebuild her life. However, her recovery is jeopardized when she accidentally sends a damaging email to her boss. Confronted with the fallout, Fran must choose between coming clean to salvage her job and sobriety or succumbing to her self-destructive tendencies and spiraling back into chaos.
Director’s Vision for ‘The Ninth’ (Matt Ferrucci)
As a filmmaker who got clean in my 20s and later worked in treatment, I feel uniquely suited to direct this story. My own journey has profoundly shaped my perspective, drawing me to underdog stories featuring underestimated characters who transform their pain into resilience and humor. This connection to the material is what attracted me to THE NINTH, a dark character study infused with moments of levity, reminiscent of films like Clean & Sober and Rachel Getting Married.
I am also proud to highlight that our filmmaking team is incredibly diverse and inclusive. With a Filipino-American female producer, a Filipino-American director, and female writing team, we aimed to bring authentic voices and perspectives to this project. This representation behind the camera not only enhances the authenticity of our story but also reflects our commitment to creating a more inclusive cinematic landscape.
I hope you enjoy watching it as much as we had making it.
Writer’s Statement (Lauren Cantell)
I wrote “The Ninth” because I wanted to honor the work it takes to stay sober. Based around the idea that once we stop doing the physical damage to ourselves and others, the consequences don’t just magically go away. Sobriety is daily radical honesty about who you are and taking accountability for what you’ve done. The story’s protagonist, Fran, does things “her” way. Continuing to do the bare minimum, thinking she’s got it all figured out. Only by being forced to answer for the damage she has caused her boss is she able to get to the precipice of real change. Sobriety is hard work. It’s messy and complicated and deeply human…and there are still some laughs along the way. Thank you for watching.
