Experiencing Interruptions?

"The Unwinding"

Logline:
A despondent widower befriends a young woman who helps him find new reasons to keep on living.

Synopsis:
David is a retired widower who’s battling depression as he counts down his last days. With the anniversary of his wife May’s death coming up, he avoids seeing his only friend Chris and makes plans to say goodbye to his pain privately, once and for all. On the anniversary date, he sets his table with he and May’s wedding dishes, puts on his best clothes, and orders what he intends to be one last meal from he and his wife’s favorite restaurant. When the food arrives, though, David is taken aback by the kindness of and unexpected connection with the young delivery woman, Lily, and they begin an unlikely friendship. Lily and David start studying Chinese together whenever David orders from her family’s restaurant, which gives him new reasons to keep on living. But the platonic relationship is thrown into jeopardy when David asks Lily to let him introduce her to his friend Chris, and David’s vital connection with Lily risks being broken forever.

  • Brendan Davis
    Director
  • Brendan Davis
    Writer
  • Roger King
    Producer
  • Brendan Davis
    Producer
    Age Inappropriate, Life With Fiona, Deadgirl, Born To Dance
  • Susan Qin Davis
    Producer
  • Naeem Seirafi
    Producer
  • Stan Ruszkowski
    Producer
  • Kevin Michael West
    Key Cast
    "DAVID"
  • Izyan Hay
    Key Cast
    "LILY"
  • Daniel Charles Doherty
    Key Cast
    "CHRIS"
  • Walter Volpatto
    Crew
    Colorist: GREEN BOOK, STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI, DUNKIRK, INTERSTELLAR
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Runtime:
    25 minutes 28 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    June 28, 2023
  • Production Budget:
    25,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United Kingdom
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Arri Alexa Mini
  • Aspect Ratio:
    1.9:1
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Digital Cinema Package:
    Unavailable
Director Biography - Brendan Davis

Brendan Davis – Writer, Director, Producer, Composer

Brendan Davis is a filmmaker and composer based in Paris, developing a slate of feature films that span multiple genres and international markets. With a strong background in independent productions and extensive experience working across cultures—primarily in Atlanta, Los Angeles, Beijing, and Paris—he specializes in character-driven stories that explore the complexities of human relationships, ambition, and identity.

As a producer, Davis has been involved in films premiering, competing, or winning at Sundance HK, Toronto, Berlin, and other festivals (Metamorphosis, Deadgirl, Born To Dance, Life With Fiona). In 2013, he produced the first Los Angeles-based season of the Chinese TV hit Jia Pian You Yue (The Best), featuring Stan Lee, Justin Lin, M. Night Shyamalan, Sean Astin, and others. He later wrote and directed the documentary Yibin: An Elemental Journey for CCTV in China and co-produced the feature documentary Crazyhot with director Eric Raine, chronicling a five-year global exploration of the ultra-hot chili pepper world.

Davis is currently producing My Favorite Season, an ambitious feature film set in the world of high fashion in Paris. His role includes overseeing the project’s development and production strategy, as well as working closely with the director to shape and realize the creative vision while navigating the complexities of a large international production. He is also actively developing The Bishop’s Man, adapted from Lynden MacIntyre’s best-selling novel, with acclaimed filmmaker Babak Payami (752 Is Not A Number, Secret Ballot) attached to direct in Nova Scotia.

As a writer-director, Davis recently completed a major rewrite of One Shot, a sharp, character-driven drama set in Paris and Marseille. Now in active development, the film delves into themes of love, ambition, and the blurred lines between art and reality, with Davis set to bring his meticulous storytelling approach and strong creative vision to the director’s chair.

He is also developing Dirt Track Honeymoon, a feature film that grew out of a short film and music video of the same name. He wrote and directed the short, as well as the accompanying song, which blends cinematic storytelling with a high-energy country-pop sound. The feature expands on the world and themes introduced in the short, offering a fresh take on love, recklessness, and small-town dreams.

In addition, Davis is developing The Unwinding, a psychological drama feature expanding on his earlier acclaimed short film of the same name. The feature deepens the tension and mystery of the original, exploring themes of paranoia, fate, and control.

With multiple projects in motion, Davis continues to build strategic partnerships in France and beyond. His work balances artistic vision with commercial appeal, and his ability to bridge different markets and storytelling styles makes him a filmmaker to watch.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

“The Unwinding” tells a story that’s deeply personal to me, yet undeniably universal—one of grief and healing, loss and redemption, and finding hope in the most unexpected places.

David’s despair over losing his wife is something I’ve lived with in my own way. The path he considers out of his pain is one that, tragically, several friends of mine have taken. Lily’s simple kindness becomes a lifeline for David—a reminder that connection is still possible, and that life can offer new meaning even when it feels over.

I also wanted to explore the quiet realities of aging—both the physical toll and the emotional distance it can create. David’s friend Chris represents those who find themselves in the difficult role of caretaker or protector, trying to balance empathy with necessary boundaries. It’s a position many of us will face, and it deserves more space in the stories we tell.

This film, which also serves as the first act of a feature currently in development, is my way of examining the quiet, human moments that define how we care for one another—and ourselves—when the world seems to be slipping away. My hope is that The Unwinding fosters empathy, reflection, and deeper conversations about aging, connection, and how we find our place in the world as time moves on.