Private Project

Knots

While restoring her derelict sailboat, an old mariner finds her late husband’s memory lingering within the cabin.

  • Justin F. Lee
    Director
  • Sahil Arya
    Producer
  • Brian Globus
    Producer
  • Justin F. Lee
    Writer
  • Linda Watters
    Key Cast
  • Robert Zastre
    Director of Photography
  • Maxim Karsh-LeClaire
    Editor
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Genres:
    Romance, Drama, Nautical
  • Runtime:
    15 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    May 7, 2025
  • Production Budget:
    5,000 CAD
  • Country of Origin:
    Canada
  • Country of Filming:
    Canada
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    RED
  • Aspect Ratio:
    2.39
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Justin F. Lee

Justin is a filmmaker, playwright, and sailor interested in the evolution of Canadian drama as a building block for a richer national identity. He holds a BFA in theatre from the University of Victoria.

Coming from the theatre he primarily works in Production and Lighting in film. He associate-produced the feature film “Mongrels” which world premiered at Vancouver International Film Festival (DGC Horizon Award) and the short film “SO-RI” part of VAFF’s 2023 Mighty Asian Moviemaking Marathon. He was the Project Manager at The Canadian Play Thing Theatre, showrunning the audio drama series “A Way Out” and creating the interview series “Playwright to Playwright” funded through Playwrights Guild Canada.

"Knots", is his writer/director debut, inspired by his time crewing tall ships in the Maritimes and Washington State.

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Director Statement

Like any good romantic, after a difficult end to a first love relationship, I dealt with the feeling by running away to sea. That summer, as a deckhand aboard the tall ship Lady Washington, we rescued a stranded sailboat carrying a young couple ironically named “Knot Working”. Thus the idea of Knots was born: a romantic drama set against the water that explored the process of letting go. A year later, sailing in the Great Lakes I met a fearless and endlessly warm sailor in her later years. This inspired a protagonist, one who represents a majority of my sailing mentors, women, who are often underrepresented in the marine industry.

The natural wish when we grow old is to be at peace. But what if we get there and that isn’t the case? The evolving conversation of mental health cannot remain exclusive to young people, as our lives are forever in motion, ebb and flood. With a protagonist unapologetically in her late 60s, I seek to shine light on my parents’ generation as they retire. We stand on their shoulders; many of whom made extremely practical and difficult life choices so young adults like me can pursue self-actualization.

By nature, the rising tide of mental health awareness should lift all struggles, not just those of the latest generation. Thus, we must tell Carolyn's story now, so people of all ages know they are not alone, not after COVID, not after mass retirement, not ever.