ABOUT THIS FILM
Debut Summer 2019
In this short film inspired by true events, a ‘dark’ secret ties in with the pressures of succumbing to Hindu traditions and roles, all of which play a part in Suraj Patel’s decision at the end of his day.
Middle-class Hindu man, Suraj Patel, has a family that consists of a wife, and two kids. He lives what seems to be an ordinary life from an outside point of view, however, internally, he is tortured. Suraj has carried a big secret with him all his life without telling a soul because he knows it would bring so much unimaginable shame to not only him, but also his family name and religion. His wife, Sonia, knows his secret, however they never speak of it, putting a strain on their marriage. He consistently sees a Hindu priest at the temple. Witness the unfolding of Suraj's story within the last several hours of his life. Filming began and ended in February 2018 with the Black Magic Cinema camera on locations in Watsonville and surrounding areas. |
OUR MISSION
This project will take our audience a step into the life of someone dealing with depression and thoughts of suicide. Our hope is that we will reach those in need of help and those who are needed for support. The value of this film is difficult to measure on a personal level but we hope it opens the hearts of many.
Ultimately, while its initial concept was to create a short student film, director Marissa Shankar, announced she is working to expand it into a feature-length film making it a short pitch. She wishes to dissect the remaining as well as birth newly relevant themes such as toxic masculinity, sexuality, multicultural issues, and mental health aspects. |
A MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR
This film is extremely important and personal to myself because I can relate to this subject on some level. Growing up in a strict religious community, there are many restrictions, traditions, rules, expectations one must follow in order to be accepted in the community in which they are born in. This film highlights the struggles and repercussions of how staying true to one's religion alongside its beliefs may allow oneself to completely lose themselves as a human being--their happiness, their friends/family, their sanity. Not only is the purpose of this film to shed a light on one specific religious community, but all communities as a whole. Suraj's story is bigger than him; it is a story that is relevant to many people that share that same struggle with him, whether it is on a precise level or not. This is just one message from one story of many that must be acknowledged, and told so that we as the human race can pay attention to those around us and help whoever needs it most.
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