THE FAMILY TREE
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About the film
After the death of his wife, Shelton is left as a struggling single parent and searches for acceptance of his new life through prayer. He believes he's found an answer after his Mother-in-law prepares to move back to the Philippines and gifts him with a family heirloom, a sacred bonsai tree.
Director’s Statement
This film has taken many different shapes and forms within the past 5 years. What started as an ode to my Tita turned into a tribute to my cousin Stas, who passed away late 2023 due to brain cancer. In many ways, this film reflects my personal life and at times I felt like I was writing things into existence. This thought scared me and stalled me from going further within the filmmaking process for a while, as at the same time I was grieving multiple family members.
Originally this film was supposed to be a horror film, but I've decided to tell the stories of hope instead. "The Family Tree" was my not only my way of grieving, but also a way to explore different layers of the Filipino-American experience fixating on cultural differences and religion. I hope this film helps others with their grieving process and gives them a sense of hope. Mahal kita.
WHY THIS FILM IS IMPORTANT
The Family Tree is a Filipino American story touching on grief through the culture’s own superstitions with a modern twist, blending genres to create a film like no other. Not only entertaining but contains layers of depth, diving into the filipino American experience, and asian folklore.
WHERE YOU COME IN
There's a lot that goes into making a film, from renting expensive camera gear to buying food for crew and everything else in between. With your donations you'll be helping us cover the costs of production!