Plot

STILLNESS, Short Film, Drama A photographer comes to take remembrance portraits for a family who have suffered a stillbirth.

Rose and Tom wait anxiously. They've been here before, and Tom is nervous while Rose is introspective. She holds a black bag in her lap tenderly. Susan, a midwife, arrives and greets them with familiarity. She thanks Rose for being here and for doing this beautiful thing for this other family. "They are in room 208, do you remember the way?" Rose nods, and Susan leaves to get some paperwork and will meet her there. Tom reassures Rose that he is here, and she musters up her courage and heads to the room. We see her in the corridor, inhaling, nervous. She stops at room 209 for a moment, her hand on the door, remembering. Then finds room 208, exhaling. She opens the black bag and takes out her camera. Susan arrives and tells her about the family, Olivia and Isaac, and that it's been a rough morning. Rose hands Susan her bag, Susan knocks and lets her in, and assures her she is here for her. Rose nods thankfully and enters. She comes into the room to find Olivia, weeping, standing near a bassinet, with Isaac further away looking out the window. He feels her presence, and dismisses her - "I told Susan no photos, you can leave." Rose stays and Olivia invites her to the bassinet as Isaac turns back to look out the window. Olivia introduces her son, and Rose asks permission to take photos. Olivia nods. Rose asks permission to move her son, Olivia nods. Then Rose asks: "Can I have you in Mom?" Olivia smiles for the first time, leaning over her son as Rose takes photos. Rose asks Isaac: "Dad, can I have you in?" Issac turns to look at her, his face full of emotion. Rose continues: "It's your chance for a family photo. For all of you. It's evidence he was here, and you were here with him." Isaac starts to move towards the bassinet, then breaks down, he just can't. Olivia lifts their son and puts him in his father's arms, and the family comes together, Isaac confessing: "I love him so much." Rose, moved, takes photos, and expresses her condolences, then gently leaves. Outside, Rose lets go of all the emotion she's been feeling, breathing heavily, as Susan watches. They make eye contact, and Susan says, "Thank you, it means so much to have photos." Rose responds, "I know." They smile and go separate ways, Rose back down the corridor to Tom. He is waiting, they embrace, and we cut back to the family, still embracing.