The Lesson | Cateye Films

The Film

ROSALINA PERRON EMILY SPROCH WILLIAM KING APPEL JAY LAWRENCE KIMAN

score composed by MARK LANZ WEISER sound design UGO DEROUARD

production design LUCIA ROSALES costume design ELIZABETH MUXI

director of photography DENISE BAILIE written by KIRAN KAUR SAINI

produced by IRIN EVERS

directed and edited by INDY SAINI

Synopsis

Rose, lonely middle-aged Latino women, lives below an audibly active prostitute. Struggling to get some peace and quiet she repeatedly bangs on the ceiling with a broom until one day she pokes a hole through to the apartment above. Hearing voices, Rose's curiosity compels her to climb onto a chair and peer into Brandi's apartment. To her surprise she learns a secret about Brandi that causes her to reflect on her own past. Rose, in a quiet effort to connect with Brandi and help her in her life, begins to leave anonymous presents on Brandi's doorstep. As the relationship grows both women gain new hope and strength in their lives.

The Production

Then there was production. Its own New York story. We built the set in a loft space in a narrow Manhattan four story walk up. Not only were we all exhausted at the end of the shoot, we were in much better shape. I would say the shoot was a typical low budget experience filled with the challenge of a million things, everything acquired through begging, borrowing and begging, each day filled with disappointments and surprises, and the passion of the participants keeping it all moving along. Through the long days, these amazingly committed, talented actors and creative team made this film happen. Thanks to them all! And to my partner for showing up at 3 in the morning at wrap to help carry the set, lighting and grip gear back down all those steps!

Notes

There are so many stories to tell; of ordinary people and extraordinary characters, compromising situations and commanding journeys. I love to observe people at the airport while awaiting a flight. It’s a microcosm of the world; a great landscape of peoples playing out their stories. The layers of emotion, the secrets visible at the seams, the subtleties of each relationship offering a little window into someone’s joy, yearning, ecstasy, or emptiness within the bustle of activity.

What lies beneath the surface of who we appear to be? What draws us towards each other? What makes us stand in a crowd and feel totally alone? What makes us take a chance to change our lives?

Circumstances, life’s harsh experiences, a faster and faster pace of our society have stripped many people of any intimate connections or community, leaving only a profound sense of isolation. A place that is hard to emerge from once deep in its grasp. The Lesson is s story that begins in this place, with characters that decide to take a chance. A tale about ordinary people leading lonely lives and the ways they find to move forward with the cards they’ve been dealt.