THE TIES THAT BIND
Elaine supports both her son and her habit the only way she knows how. Her son, Tristan, protects her the only way he knows how, on the front porch with his trusty brick. After telling Tristan she plans to spend her recent payday on her next fix, he reminds her again that he needs new shoes for school. Elaine angrily decides to burden her son with the guilt of placing herself in harm’s way in order to provide him with the shoes.
When things go awry, Tristan tries to be supportive only to become a victim of more of his mother’s guilt. The overwhelming remorse he feels prevents him from going through with buying the new shoes, only to return home to find his mother bleeding out from an attempted suicide. After saving her life, Tristan is forced to examine his own life and decide whether or not he wants to continue to be her savior, or decide to finally save himself. World Premiere The American Pavilion’s Emerging Filmmaker’s Showcase