LOGLINE
Suffering a sudden devastating loss, a burnout drunk grapples with caring for his brother with Down syndrome, while having to face his own emotional demons.
BEST FEATURE SCREENPLAY
SYNOPSIS
Mick’s a washed-up lush wrestling with an addiction, and has never taken care of anyone but himself — no responsibility, no accountability — he prefers it this way.
He’s faced with the sudden death of his mother and is immediately challenged with the care of Gordie, his non-verbal brother with Down syndrome.
Unable to maintain his own life, Mick’s inability to overcome latent trauma with an abusive father, hurls him into a destructive downfall. When Gordie is sent away, Mick finally realizes what he needs to do to get him back.
WRITER | DIRECTOR STATEMENT
Having suffered a near-fatal stroke in 2024, I’ve realized that recovery is an uphill journey with many pitfalls, both physical and mental. I’ve worked very hard to overcome these challenges while mourning the loss of my former self. Learning how not to berate myself in order to navigate the new normal, and accept my disabilities as being part of my superpower versus my flaw, is a daily struggle to becoming the person I’m still manifesting.
“Fresh” is a story close to my heart, that tackles the subjects of mental health, addiction, disability, and survival. We all face our physical and mental demons to some capacity — we all have our own skeletons in the closet. Recovery for me is not about ‘fixing’ ourselves, as life will always present more challenges and setbacks.
For me, recovery is learning how to navigate so life doesn’t become unbearable, and to identify when we need to help ourselves by asking for help from others. Mick is an alcoholic whose life is already unmanageable. He’s tasked with caring for Gordie his non-verbal brother with Down syndrome. While Gordie is technically considered “non-verbal”, he is able to communicate his emotion and understanding through expressive action. Action will be the driving force of communication throughout this film. The minute and subtle details of movement are important to discovering who these characters are, and how they develop.
“Fresh” is a gritty, heart-warming story of new beginnings, self-discovery, acceptance, perseverance, and of course, love.
ROSANNE KANG