Experiencing Interruptions?

3 Miles East

Filmmaker Samuel Karow pays tribute to his childhood home in this experimental documentary that is equal parts family portrait and personal rumination. Over the course of one year, we discover the 40 acre farm property through Karow's eyes as he faces a major life choice: stay and inherit his parents' greenhouse business or leave to pursue a career in film.

  • Samuel Karow
    Director
  • Samuel Karow
    Writer
  • Samuel Karow
    Producer
  • Samuel Karow
    Key Cast
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Short, Student
  • Runtime:
    11 minutes 6 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    September 1, 2012
  • Production Budget:
    1,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    SD MiniDV
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    Yes
  • UW-Milwaukee 61st Student Film and Video Festival
    Milwaukee, WI
    Best Film
  • 2012 Festival de Cannes Short Film Corner
  • 2012 Central Wisconsin Film Festival
    Marshfield, WI
  • 2013 Wildwood Film Festival
    Appleton, WI
  • 2014 Speechless International Film Festival
    Mankato, MN
  • 2014 Pinney Mini Film Festival
    Madison, WI
  • 2015 Beloit International Film Festival
    Beloit, WI
  • 2015 Driftless International Film Festival
    Mineral Point, WI
Director Biography - Samuel Karow

Samuel Karow is a video artist and freelance videographer based in Central Wisconsin. In 2011 he received his BFA from UW-Milwaukee's Department of Film. Producing experimental documentaries and still photography, Karow seeks to capture genuine moments of beauty, intimacy, and conflict. When given ample time for discovery, he finds that the ordinary becomes quite extraordinary.

Karow's work has been exhibited nationally and internationally. His award-winning short film “3 Miles East” was included in the 64th Cannes Film Festival Court Metrage.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

Much of my work can be described as personal documentary. I believe in order to engage in something real, you must call upon your own experience.

“3 Miles East” certainly proves an example of this. The film was my senior project at UW-Milwaukee. More than anything, it served as a way for me to work through my biggest dilemma upon leaving college and entering the real world: Do I pursue a career in film or do I move back home and inherit my parents’ greenhouse business?

The business was founded in 1947 by my grandfather and taken over by my parents in the 1980s. Unless I follow suit, it will end.

Degeneration through generations proves the central idea at play. I feel a stark difference existing between my grandfather and me. There is a great sadness in knowing that someone from his stock, a man of true American grit and character, could devolve into a hapless artist who throws away the family legacy.