in the past

The story follows a middle-aged man who reunites with his former mentor, determined to finally express what was remained unsaid for decades.

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My own experience has taught me how difficult it can be to speak openly about childhood trauma, particularly for men. There can be a powerful internal pressure to minimise, rationalise, or simply remain silent about the darker elements that shape us and can become a source of shame.

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One of my key aims was for the audience to discover the nature of the meeting alongside the characters, piecing together fragments through the awkward conversation and the unspoken tension. I was interested in the way people carry their history, often communicating far more through what they cannot say than through what they can.

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Rather than focusing on the specifics of the events themselves, I wanted to examine their echoes; and the way they continue to shape identity, relationships, and self-perception far longer than one realises. The film relies heavily on performance and subtext, allowing moments of silence and discomfort to speak as loudly as the dialogue.

I also wanted to create a striking tonal dissonance by placing an unsettling conversation within the serene, curated atmosphere of an upscale café. 

Making in the past has been genuinely cathartic. 

My hope is that audiences connect with Alan’s courage in confronting Nigel and his attempt at reaching closure, and that the film encourages reflection on experiences that are too often hidden from view.