An aging cattle rancher is forced to contend with his climate displacement and his failing ability to live and work alone.
300 acres of land, several miles of fenceline, 60 head of cattle, 15 horses, 6 barn cats, 1 dog; all held together by widowed Sam. Sam is 71, and his aging body is barely keeping up with the multitude of tasks it takes to maintain his ranch. As Sam’s body aches and slows, the changing climate threatens the livelihood of the land. When Sam learns his ranch is denied water rights for the year, he is forced to sell off his entire herd because the land will not sustain them. Stubborn in his independence and in denial of his limitations, Sam proceeds to move his livestock on his own. When an unexpected accident occurs, Sam’s daughter, Jade, arrives just in time to save him from a worse fate. Jade works as a registered nurse miles away from the ranch, and constantly fears for her father’s well-being. Sam shares with her his dilemma and she springs into action to support his shutting down operation. Jade reenters ranch life with ease, while a recovering Sam watches on, ashamed of his inability to participate and devastated at facing this new era. Jade and Sam butt heads throughout her visit: neither of them willing to hold space for their varying points of view. As Jade continues to push through caring for her father and shuttling the cattle, she understands the deep sorrow and loss Sam feels. Not only did he lose his wife, but because of the declining climate, he can’t even save the ranch they both loved. Jade invites her father on a morning horseback ride as a peace offering to revel in the beauty of the ranch. Things will be different for them and the land, but they just might be okay so long as they have each other.
Originally from a horse ranch in Colorado, Chelsea Christer began her filmmaking career in San Francisco. Her feature-length directorial debut, the award-winning music documentary BLEEDING AUDIO, screened at nearly twenty festivals including Slamdance. BLEEDING AUDIO released in May 2022 to critical acclaim. As both a fiction and non-fiction writer/director, Chelsea focuses on character-driven narratives often exploring themes of identity, ambition, and human connection. Her recent narrative short HOLDING ON FOREVER is currently on the film festival circuit, while her upcoming unscripted comedy TV series NOBODY ASKED will premiere on Dropout in 2024. Her latest short, the extremely dark comedy OUT FOR DELIVERY, will premiere at festivals in 2025. Chelsea has produced and directed brand documentaries and commercials for tech giants like Google and Adobe, spanning from the US to Japan, Europe, Australia, and rural India. Chelsea is an engaged member of the film community, having volunteered 15 years at the Sundance Film Festival, as well as contributing as a programmer and juror for Slamdance, Cinequest, and more.
Shore Short Film Fund 2024 - Semifinalist
Actor - Lily Harris
Actor - Ed Harris
Producer - Clinton Trucks
