ESCAPE

As war breaks out, a woman packs up her children and plots their escape.

I grew up hearing the stories of my father’s family fleeing war. I have always been aware that one can build a beautiful life and in an instant have to leave it all behind to protect those you most love. With unthinkable scenarios playing out around the world and grand debates happening from afar about how they should be handled, I wanted to tell a simple, human story that hopefully sparks empathy. A glimpse behind one door of one family, one mother and one daughter scrambling to survive.

Escape is based on my family’s last night in Lebanon. On the impossible decisions my grandparents had to make. It is a love song to them, their courage and strength to persist in the face of horrific loss and tragedy.

“As Ember says in the end, You never know what your life story’s gonna be, do you?”

— Christina Wren

This video, or its message, has been stuck in Gaui's mind for a long time. He lived in the Faroe Islands for four years before moving to Denmark last January, and it was during this time that he came to fully appreciate the remarkable mentality of the Faroese people. The saying "Maybe tomorrow" encapsulates it perfectly; if something isn't possible today, then there's always tomorrow or the next day.

Words by Director Demetrius Wren

When putting together the film, it was important to have the audience first think we are in some other place. Some other time. In some other country. Our actress speaks German. Is this WW2? But it is revealed that this is the US. And she’s not a rebel or an extremist. She is a mother. It was important to slowly break down the audience perspective in the shot the design and rhythm of the edit.

We also wanted to reveal the stakes that begin with her young children (that we filmed while sleeping to have an easier time with minors) but also an even more fragile and volatile concern: the life of her teenage daughter who is a reflection of her. We then have the film follow the young person who just wants to have a life but is thrust into this situation.

The use of sound design helped us create a sense of chaos without showing the war and the front doorstep.

Cast and crew at the premiere of ‘Escape’ at the Atlanta Underground Film Festival

The beauty of a backyard meant for children to play in mimics a cluttered war zone. But in that environment, we still find beauty and hope.

The need to escape can sneak up on anyone if we’re not careful. And if it does, we are faced with what is truly important: the safety of our families.