A reclusive book publisher experiences unexpected catharsis and connection through a series of chance encounters when she is thrust into a Surrealist odyssey (a dérive) across New York City to release her ex-wife’s ashes. A whimsical, down-the-rabbit-hole comedy about grief, love, and talking to strangers, Dérive celebrates the small moments of spontaneous connection that infuse life with meaning.

Director's Statement

Those who know me know I like to talk to strangers, court synchronicity, get lost in cities, get found at Burning Man, and dream of joining the circus. Such experiences evoke the kind of openness, presence, and awe I aspire to embody yet often fail to sustain. I was struck, therefore, by the theory of "dérive” (French for "drift”), a revolutionary strategy for gamifying life, disrupting the everyday, and fostering spontaneity. This film is an ode to the dérive. It flirts with the sublime, the serendipitous, and the surreal—and invites you to do the same.

Category: Short, Dramedy, Arizona Film, Award Winner.
Themes: Friendship, Relationships, Death.

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