Private Project

Mien

After their throuple implodes, a heartbroken young man must come to terms with his girlfriend leaving him for their former third partner.

  • Zachary Karem
    Director
  • Zachary Karem
    Writer
  • Penelope Eaton
    Producer
  • Zachary Karem
    Producer
  • Sonia Gumuchian
    Producer
  • Renes Rivera
    Producer
  • Penelope Eaton
    Key Cast
    "Brett"
  • Zachary Karem
    Key Cast
    "Nicholas"
  • Renes Rivera
    Key Cast
    "Tonio"
  • Sonia Gumuchian
    Key Cast
    "Liza"
  • Robert Vazquez
    Key Cast
    "Jude"
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Genres:
    Drama, LGBTQ+
  • Runtime:
    9 minutes 15 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    March 14, 2023
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Film Color:
    Black & White and Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Zachary Karem

Zachary Karem is an award-winning writer, director, journalist, and producer. His sci-fi short film "Anemoia" has won over a dozen awards, including Best Director, Best Screenplay, and Best Sci-Fi. "Anemoia" is currently being adapted into a feature-length picture. Zachary has worked on and traveled for documentaries covering the Russian-Ukrainian war, the Syrian refugee crisis, and Lebanon. He serves as the executive producer of the popular news podcast "Just Ask The Question." In his spare time, he is an avid drone pilot and a film and literature enthusiast. In his personal life, he is admired as a fantastic partner and an incredible cat dad—yes, all of his friends speak in hyperbole. Zachary has penned political satire for ‘The Satirist,’ and his short story "Ghosts of Venice" was published in TAEM. His latest short story, "The Appointment," is forthcoming in a new anthology novel.

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Director Statement

Can anyone truly see their own flaws, or do they only exist within the context of other people's observations?

A woman decides to leave her male partner for the third (female) member of their throuple. She does it maturely and honestly, but does that make any difference to the person being left?
Our film 'Mien' is based on a short story from the 1920s, 'The Sea Change' by Ernest Hemingway. 'Mien' is a timeless tale of pride, ego, sexuality, and most importantly, "vice."

We wanted to create this because we feel that what we experience as humans is ultimately timeless. Things change, but they stay the same, and in many ways, we are the same people today as we were in the past. We get so caught up in our own personal stories of woe and supposed novelty that we forget to appreciate our shared humanity.

We all have flaws. We all, at one point or another, try to control and negate the negative, but often fall short because we are blinded by our own perspective.

This film, in a well-paced nine minutes, deals with the end of a relationship and one persons descent into churlish self-indulgence. While dealing with themes of LGBTQ+, the film finds the universality in the human experience of relationships. It's honest and real and incredibly heartbreaking. Hope you enjoy!