Experiencing Interruptions?

The Stranger Card

Fatherhood depression , something we don’t talk about much. How many men have lost their lives to this battle?

Logline: A new father decides the fate of his life after a conversation with a stranger.
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Danish: Faderskabs depression. Noget vi ikke taler om ofte. Hvor mange mænd har mistet livet i denne kamp?

Logline: En nybagt far beslutter hans livs skæbne, efter en samtale med en fremmede.

  • Joseph Valentino Palau
    Director
  • Joseph Valentino Palau
    Writer
  • Joseph Valentino Palau
    Producer
  • Helena Chamma
    Producer
  • Christian Bruun Hagn-Meincke
    Key Cast
  • Frederik Torp
    Key Cast
  • Helena Chamma
    Key Cast
  • Project Title (Original Language):
    The Stranger Card
  • Project Type:
    Short, Student
  • Genres:
    Drama
  • Runtime:
    15 minutes 52 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    October 16, 2017
  • Country of Origin:
    Denmark
  • Country of Filming:
    Denmark
  • Language:
    Danish
  • Shooting Format:
    C100 Mark II
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Barcelona Planet Film Festival
    Barcelona
    Spain
    (Official Selection 2017)
  • The Norwegian International Seagull Shortfilm Festival
    HAUGESUND
    Norway
    February 17, 2018
    (Official Selection) (Award to be determined)
  • LA CINE FEST
    Los Angeles
    United States
    Semi Finalist 2018
  • AUDFEST Dramatic Shorts Film Festival
    North Hollywood
    United States
    January 9, 2018
    Official Selection (Awards TBD)
Director Biography - Joseph Valentino Palau

Joseph Valentino Palau holds a masters degree in film and media at Copenhagen University. He has been working in the entertainment industry for many years, as a production assistant, Assistant Director, Director, and Producer. The American native has worked in Los Angeles for 5 years and moved to Denmark to follow his dream in filmmaking. After producing several projects in the USA, he has gone on to direct; 22 episodes of Danish web series Perfect Pair, A Danish experimental short film and this is his first Danish short narrative film.

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Director Statement

Director’s Statement:

As a new father myself, I have learned many new feelings about myself and my loved ones. I was so excited to have a child and maybe even secretly pushed my wife to try and have one. I can
honestly say it was not what I was ready for. Yes, I was ready to be a father to my new and first son but I wasn’t ready to be the third wheel in my family. I have never felt so alone before. My wife
was going through her own struggle, finding her place as a new mother and my son only needed his mother. So where did I stand? Who was I in this family? What was my importance or did I even
have one? All these questions would run through my head thus bringing my energy low. I decided to write a short film about this exact feeling for all the fathers out there who have gone
through the same or who are going through it now. Writing this short film helped me from falling into a depression. I was able to take my feelings and channel them to a creative outlet that I hope
will touch fathers and mothers.

Joseph Valentino Palau