In May 2024, my partner lost his cousin, Sophie, to cancer. She was more like a sister to him, and the grief that erupted from her cruel passing at age 24 was the most intense human emotion I’ve ever witnessed. The impact to each individual in our family was savage, immediate, and wildly unique. Some people shut down completely, some went into a frenzy of planning and activity, some were angry, some cared for others instead of themselves, some couldn’t see outside of their own grief.

In the weeks leading up to and following her death, I worried most about the long term impact it would have on the people in my life that I love so much. How would such a traumatic event shape the future of everyone Sophie touched? It will be years before we know. My hope for my family is that everyone finds a way to keep their hearts open, even after experiencing so much pain, even though there is no guarantee that they won’t feel intense pain again.

This film is my exploration of grief, how it lives within us, molds us, drives us. The human experience of grief, though debilitating, is common. But there is no roadmap on how to navigate it, no clear path out, and no template for how to help others through it. By centering a story around grief, I hope to give voice to the millions of people who are grieving, who are lonely, and who feel isolated in the face of loss.

It is my own way of grieving.