16MM Short Film

On Christmas Eve, Mila (20s) and Tomas (30s) meet to visit their estranged father, Jan (60s). Tomas doesn’t want to see him but he reluctantly agrees to come because he desperately needs his money, while Mila feels sorry for Jan who lives alone.

When they arrive, Jan welcomes them warmly, trying to make things seem normal, and serving up a nice dinner. But there's something strange in the air as if they're all pretending to be a family when they're not. Tensions peak when Tomas, in financial trouble, tries to steal from Jan. After this point, the truth comes out: Mila and Tomas are paid actors hired by Jan to pretend to be his children because his real kids want nothing to do with him. Tomas is drowning in debt, and Mila feels unsupported by her family while she pursues an acting career.

As they argue and share their struggles, they expose their loneliness and longing for real family. Despite the accusatory arguments, they realize they need each other.

Cast

Elina Timashevskaia

Jamie Marshall

Jakub Koudela