Peace and Serenity
When Serenity throws a surprise birthday party for her dad, it is about much more than presents and cake. She is trying to bring some measure of peace to a home that has had none of it for a long time. Then her estranged brother shows up on the driveway, making the situation even more tenuous. But at least he showed up.
They can talk. Try to move forward.
Student filmmaker Triston Kollister is currently pursuing a degree in Radio-Television-Film at the University of Texas at Austin, and the high production values of this project suggest he is making the most of his opportunity. The story is nuanced, and pieces of the family's puzzle are left scattered on the counter like Serenity's Best Father gift mug.
The resolution of the story is unclear and unsatisfying, but that is not a fault of the film. As the project developed, Kollister found that it increasingly mirrored real life, where circumstances often inch forward slowly to be resolved another day, if at all.
You can watch the trailer here: Peace and Serenity Trailer
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