Tagline:

This is a short film about a family vacation that will visually explore the connection between someone who is closeted and someone who is blind.

Synopsis:

Jacob joins his middle school girlfriend, Julie, on vacation with her parents, Dennis and Pam. Jacob, while young, is knowingly hiding the fact that he is gay, not only from Julie and her family, but himself. This becomes a source of deep insecurity when he is confronted with the opportunity to be intimate with Julie. Ignoring Julie’s advances, Jacob becomes more interested in spending time with her father Dennis, who is blind. On the last day of the vacation, it begins to rain. Cooped up in the hotel room and frustrated by the events of the vacation, Julie becomes angry and takes it out on her father. Jacob decides to stay in the room with Dennis instead of joining Julie and her mother to watch the storm. Now alone together, Dennis suggest they watch a movie. Because he is blind, Jacob will have to explain things as necessary. Scrolling through the possible titles, they decide to watch “Me, Myself, and Irene,” a Jim Carrey comedy from 2000 by the Farrelly Brothers. For the first time on the vacation, Jacob is forced to confront his sexuality and explain explicit details to Dennis that appear on screen. Jacob watches Dennis instead of the movie. It is the first time he’s seen a man up close, and because Dennis cannot see, Jacob is able to observe him freely. Despite laughter, Jacob sees a man in pain. The lights go out in the room, cutting the film short. Jacob and Dennis share silence.

Project representatives:

Jacob LaMendola (Writer and Director)