On the outskirts of a dying frontier town, a frantic miner named Arlen seeks refuge in a church as a violent storm rages outside. Consumed by panic, Arlen recounts his troubles to a reluctant priest. What starts as a plea for protection soon unravels into a chilling confession of violence.
As Arlen’s truths are revealed, the conversation takes unexpected turns, exposing hidden connections between confessor and confidant. With law enforcement closing in and dawn approaching, tensions rise as Arlen admits he will be executed at sunrise for his crimes. The story crescendos to a revelation that casts the series of events in a new light, leaving us to ponder the nature of supremacy, violence, and redemption in a harsh and unforgiving world.
Director’s Vision for ‘The Wind’
I grew up in the church. Throughout my life, there was always the comfort of a safety net ready to catch me should I veer of course; be it unintentional or not. In my teen years, as I battled with nearly every belief I held, was when I learned about the systemic abuses of the church I called my own. From the top down, there was rot in the wood. I felt a deep shame and anger that vicious men, acting as holy and superior pillars of the community, would label themselves the same as I did. Forgiving themselves in line with a doctrine bent to their own convenience. I distanced myself from all forms of religion. In my twenties, I recognized the correlations between religious hypocrisy and toxic masculinity. The Wind explores various forms of supremacy and the entitlement to forgiveness. While the story is told within the claustrophobic walls of a church confessional, by the end of the film it becomes clear that religion was not guiding the decision-maker. I wanted to explore what happens when you’re falling and the safety net isn’t there. If you lie to yourself, or to others, falsely taking on the role of a pious Christian, who really knows the truth?
Are You Awake? is a deeply intimate story following a person who no longer sees the point of it all. With sprinkles of sci-fi and mystery, the film highlights the dread of staleness, the impact of a bad idea, and the role of companionship in a world weary to step outside. Feature script available.
