Experiencing Interruptions?

The Return to Why

A young woman returns home to make amends and find peace a year after the unexpected, tragic death of her sister.

  • Cascina Caradonna
    Key Cast
    "Lyria"
    The Last of Us Part II
  • Stella Marcus
    Key Cast
    "Iris"
    Elizabeth Giamatti's "When We Were Old," "Redux Redux"
  • Yessenia Rivas
    Key Cast
    "Casey"
    Filippo M. Prandi's "My Last Best Friend"
  • Kimi Handa Brown
    Key Cast
    "Rachel"
  • Phil Rafferty
    Key Cast
    "Uncle Red"
  • Leonidas Ocampo
    Producer
  • James Kerkapoly
    Sound Recordist/Lighting
  • William Phelps
    Writer/Director/Cinematographer/Editor
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Genres:
    Drama, LGBTQ, Queer
  • Runtime:
    31 minutes 28 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    August 4, 2024
  • Production Budget:
    6,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital Bolex D16 2K
  • Aspect Ratio:
    4:3
  • Film Color:
    Black & White
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography

William Phelps is an Asian-American artist based in Brooklyn, NY. In addition to being a filmmaker, William is an actor ("The L Word: Generation Q," "FBI"), musician, and graphic designer/illustrator.

See more of his work at www.goodwillphelps.com

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

I write to you from a laptop backstage at the St. James Theater on 44th Street in the heart of New York’s Theater District. Right now, Local One stagehands are loading out Justin Peck’s “Illinoise,” a dance musical illustrating the pain we endure after suffering a traumatic event.

Nietzsche wrote, “Throw roses into the abyss and say, ‘Here is my thanks to the monster who didn’t succeed in swallowing me alive.’” And, as I write this now, I am fortunate enough to say that I have cast my roses into the void, and thanked my own monster who tried to beat me down into submission.

A half decade ago, I escaped an abusive relationship. I found myself in therapy with a PTSD diagnosis. It took over four years to reach a clear point of acceptance and understanding of what had happened. Subconsciously, within a week, from the very same spot I write to you now, “The Return to Why” was written.

"The Return to Why" tells the story of a young woman, Lyria (played by Cascina Caradonna of The Last of Us: Part II), who returns home to her old haunts in New York City to make amends and find peace a year after the unexpected, tragic death of her younger sister, Iris (played by Stella Marcus of Liz Giamatti’s When We Were Old).

With my art, I never set out to make a definitive statement, since the subjective nature of what we do is so beautifully open-ended and infinite. I leave it to you, the viewer, to walk away with whatever it is you walk away with.

However, I will leave you with this, as I bid adieu to "Illinoise" — grief is one ugly motherfucker. We cannot beat it. We won’t. But it gets quieter. ’Til one day, it becomes the passenger, and no longer the driver.

With love,
William Phelps

12 August 2024