West of Willow is a short folk-period film set in the wilds of old Wyoming. It follows a woman on a journey to find the Devil—determined to bring her beloved cat back to life. What begins as a simple quest becomes an emotional, darkly humorous meditation on grief, belief, and what we’re willing to sacrifice for the things we love.
Told through a blend of myth and absurdity, West of Willow explores the ways grief manifests in our lives—and how it haunts us until we truly face it. Stylistically, the film draws inspiration from David Lowery’s The Green Knight for its poetic visual language and grounded surrealism, while embracing the offbeat humor and heart of Taika Waititi’s Jojo Rabbit.
The story follows Clara, a hardened, determined woman trekking toward a mountain butte said to be home to the Devil. Along the way, she requests the help of Elias, a hunter and self-proclaimed man of God whose eccentric faith and endless chatter challenge her resolve. As they ascend together, their clashing beliefs and unexpected camaraderie expose deeper truths about loss, love, and loneliness.
In the end, the journey toward the Devil becomes a journey inward—into Clara’s own shadow. What if, upon finding the darkness, she realizes it looks back with her own reflection? What if the Devil is not evil, but simply another face of pain—one as human and lonely as we are?
West of Willow challenges conventional ideas of good and evil, light and dark, joy and sorrow. It asks: what if these forces are not opposites, but partners—necessary to each other, inseparable? What if, instead of running from the darkness, we learned to sit beside it?
This project is deeply personal. Having recently faced the loss of my grandmother and facing many shadows of my own, I’ve come to understand how grief can both isolate and transform us. This film is my way of exploring that universal experience through myth, humor, and empathy—reminding audiences that even in our darkest moments, we are not alone.
West of Willow will be presented as a 20-minute narrative short, combining grounded performances, striking cinematography, and a tone that balances the haunting and the heartfelt. It’s a visual and emotional journey into the wilderness—both outside and within.
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