Without

Synopsis:
On a remote wooded island, a young woman becomes caretaker to an old man in a vegetative state. She has no cell signal, no internet. Only a year removed from high school and forced to meet the needs of a man who cannot respond, Joslyn vacillates between finding solace in his company and feeling fear and anger towards him. As the monotony of daily routine starts to unravel, boundaries collapse and Joslyn struggles with sexuality, guilt and loss.
Director's Bio:
Mark Jackson (writer/director) was born and raised in the Pacific Northwest. He graduated magna cum laude with a degree in literature from the University of California and went on to pursue graduate studies in cinematography at Rome's Cinecitta' Studios. He currently resides in Brooklyn, NY. Without is his first film.
Programmer Notes:
Without is an invitation to be patient that ends in a cold sweat.
A young woman takes a job as the caretaker for an elderly man who has lost the ability to communicate and lives for the most part trapped in his wheelchair. Isolated from the world and processing a hefty personal grief, she begins to suspect the man is more capable than he appears. The passing of hours between these two intensely human characters catapults into a viewing experience that will leave you shaken. With beautiful and thoughtful cinematography, and direction that utilizes a careful sleight of hand, this psychosexual drama is about more than the tension it creates. Joslyn Jensen and Ron Carrier as the two leads deliver wonderful brave performances, director Mark Jackson navigates a story that is gritty, emotional and frightening, with a strong nod to such classics as Repulsion.
Mo Perkins, Programmer