THE Returned
Feature Film
Stills Photographer
Stills Photographer
Three siblings. Three grief journeys. An intimate exploration of loss, identity and facing the inevitable.
The Returned is a drama feature film written and directed by Ben Pfeiffer which examines grief, the loss of a parent and complex family dynamics.
Vianne, a feisty – almost 70yo has received a terminal cancer diagnosis. Her oldest child Connie, a detached and somewhat hard-headed individual decides to be her mother’s sole carer. The two younger children, Quinn and Amal, both come to keep vigil as Vianne’s passing looms. Each child has a different way of grieving. For Connie, denial and pragmatism allow her to hold grief at arms length. Quinn, a single gay father to Lachie is more of a quiet observer – who possesses an emotional maturity and innate ability to hold space for his mother. Spirited and passionate Amal, adopted from Sri Lanka as a baby, has feelings of abandonment which suddenly begin to intermingle with the imminent loss, while his devoted partner Maddie, does everything in her power to support him. As Vianne tackles her impending death with humour and humility, the onus falls on each child to face the inevitable and choose presence and peace, or letting this milestone moment pass them by.
This film project is personal for nine-time award-winning screenwriter and seasoned director Ben Pfeiffer, In 2005 both of his parents were awaiting a cancer prognosis within 2 days of one another. In that small window of time, he contemplated two possible, yet very different grief journeys. Navigating what was to come he witnessed the various ways in which his family, particularly his siblings approached and moved through grief, and from this “The Returned” was born.
Written & Directed by
Ben Pfieffer
Ben Pfieffer
Produced by
Josephine Croft
Ahalya Maharaj
Amanda La Bonte
Josephine Croft
Ahalya Maharaj
Amanda La Bonte
