Browse films

Dead Languages

Nickolas Duarte
United States, 2019, 8 min.

In English.

Dead Languages is an eerie and unsettling drama that, through a layered and loaded conversation between two friends on an otherworldly beach, examines notions of revenge, failure and the inevitability of time and death.

Director's Statement

This story began as a way to explore the question: How do you remedy contradictory elements within yourself? I'm sure I'm not alone in the feeling of internal conflict. Competing morals. Personality traits that don't seem to align. Actions not matching thoughts and vice versa. Life values that can't quite sync up. Through writing and developing the story of these two men, that question answered itself and became the primary theme: Radical acceptance. Or, more precisely, this is a story about the treacherous path towards acceptance. Things are what they are. Relationships will run their course. People will have their lives. You will get hurt and you will hurt. You will not always make sense to yourself. Things cannot always be repaired. You will die and your world will end. Accept it with a smile and don't make too much of things. There is great relief and comfort, and even joy, in acceptance.

Category: Science Fiction.
Themes: Relationships.