A story of growth, redemption, and second chances. A woman struggling with addiction is forced to attend a rehab program on an isolated island. With no connection to the outside world for 45 days, she has two choices: get clean or lose everything.
Dave Taylor, a phenomenally successful San Francisco surgeon, finds his life shattered after a surgery on a local billionaire goes terribly wrong, leaving the man paralyzed. Confronted with the fallout, Dave seeks solace in his family, but instead faces a night of confrontation and turmoil with his wife, Gwen, and their teenage children, Roan and Rachel. The looming presence of Marius, his intimidating father-in-law, adds another layer of pressure, especially given Marius's political ambitions. As Dave grapples with his own shortcomings and insecurities, he can't shake the feeling that his efforts for Marius's family are never enough.
Awakening in a stark white room, Dave is thrust into a nightmare. Informed by a clinical figure named Mackey that he's committed unspeakable acts in a fugue state, Dave struggles to reconcile this horrifying reality with the man he knows himself to be. Only a compassionate nurse named Ellen offers him any semblance of comfort, urging him to "trust in dreams" as he pieces together his fragmented memories.
Haunted by glimpses of a clandestine affair with his colleague, Suzanne, Dave begins to suspect that she holds the key to the truth behind his family's tragedy. With the arrival of a young lawyer, Rob Ensler, who fervently believes in Dave's innocence, hope flickers dimly. Yet, Dave's days in the hospital become a grueling ordeal of psychological torment, as Mackey and his cohorts subject him to cruel punishments for every fragment of truth he uncovers.
Through sheer determination and resourcefulness, Dave manages to escape with Suzanne's help, only to find himself thrust into a high-stakes game of survival. Pursued by mysterious figures and plagued by doubts, Dave's quest for answers leads him to a chilling revelation: Marius orchestrated the entire ordeal to test his loyalty. Forced to confront an impossible choice between his family and his lover, Dave's descent into moral ambiguity reaches a devastating climax.
Returning to the semblance of normalcy, Dave grapples with the weight of his decisions, haunted by the sacrifices made in the pursuit of power. As Marius ascends to the highest echelons of political power, Dave's own trajectory sees him propelled into the political arena, forever changed by the harrowing journey that led him there. Despite outward success, Dave's soul bears the scars of betrayal and compromise, a cautionary tale of the moral compromises made in the pursuit of ambition.
CASEY, a young woman living recklessly on drugs and alcohol, wakes up one day in a secluded cabin on an island. Panic quickly turns to rage when she discovers her mother has enrolled her in an unconventional rehab program run by a man named JACK, who started the program after losing his son to addiction. Desperate to escape, Casey tries everything to get Jack to bring her back to civilization, but he explains that no one gets on or off the island except by way of pontoon plane, which won't be back for 45 days.
This sends Casey spiraling into despair and resentment, as she is forced to face the tribulations of withdrawal and recovery. As the days pass, the two form a tumultuous friendship, and Casey gradually begins to confront her demons. Throughout the 45 days, she relives various moments from her life of debauchery and recklessness, only to discover that it has been a hollow experience up to this point. With Jack’s guidance, she embraces change, forging an unexpected bond in the process.
SYNOPSIS
CAST WISH LIST
CASEY
A disheveled and troubled young woman, about 32-years-old. She is ill and edgy as she experiences withdrawal.
Jennifer Lawrence
Sydney Sweeney
Florence Pugh
Carey Mulligan
JACK
Lightly bearded, about 45-years-old. He is a man of few words; serene, stoic, and measured.
Scott Eastwood
Bradley Cooper
Jake Gyllenhaal
Zac Efron
JAVIER
Casey's ex-boyfriend and a cartel member. Mid-30s, intimidating but suave and attractive, he walks with a swagger.
Xolo Maridueña
Julio Macias
Manny Montana
Aaron Dominguez
CINEMATIC REFERENCES
A GOOD PERSON, TRAINSPOTTING, RACHEL GETTING MARRIED, and the TV show CALIFORNICATION each delve into the gritty realities of substance abuse and the profound consequences it has on the lives of the characters involved. Across these narratives, addiction serves as a central theme, driving the plot forward and shaping the experiences of the protagonists.
In A GOOD PERSON, addiction is portrayed as a means of escapism for the protagonist, who grapples with personal trauma and emotional turmoil. As they navigate the challenges of substance abuse, they are confronted with the devastating repercussions of their addiction on their relationships and overall well-being. The film explores themes of guilt, redemption, and the struggle for self-acceptance as the protagonist confronts the destructive cycle of addiction and seeks a path towards recovery.
Similarly, TRAINSPOTTING offers a raw and unfiltered portrayal of heroin addiction among a group of young adults in Edinburgh. The film vividly captures the highs and lows of drug dependency, highlighting the exhilarating rush of euphoria contrasted with the crushing despair of withdrawal. Through its candid depiction of addiction, "Trainspotting" explores themes of alienation, disillusionment, and the desperate quest for meaning in a life consumed by substance abuse.
In RACHEL GETTING MARRIED, addiction serves as a catalyst for familial conflict and emotional turmoil within the context of a wedding celebration. The protagonist, Kym, grapples with the demons of her past as she struggles with substance abuse and its impact on her relationships with her family members. The film poignantly examines the complexities of addiction, forgiveness, and the enduring bonds of family as Kym confronts the consequences of her addiction and seeks reconciliation with her loved ones.
CALIFORNICATION delves into the tumultuous life of Hank Moody, a troubled writer battling addiction and self-destructive tendencies. Throughout the series, Hank's substance abuse serves as a constant source of turmoil and instability, undermining his relationships and creative endeavors. As he grapples with the consequences of his addiction, "Californication" offers a candid portrayal of the cyclical nature of substance abuse and the elusive pursuit of redemption in the face of temptation.
DIRECTORS WISHLIST
Nick Cassavetes
Bradley Cooper
Zach Braff
Peter Hedges
TEAM
MICHAEL POLLACK | PRODUCER
Michael Pollack has held leadership positions for more than 40 years in the legal, financial, and entertainment industries. Michael is the founder and former President of a litigation support firm that is today part of an international group of companies. He has held directorship positions for more than a dozen financial institutions that are both private and publicly held. Specializing for decades in M&A and Turnaround Management, he has spearheaded tens of billions of dollars of financing in commercial real estate, business, and entertainment-related transactions. Stage and screen projects in which Michael has played an integral role in financing and/or producing have grossed more than $3 billion at the box office.
ANGEL CASSANI | EXECUTIVE PRODUCER
Angel Cassani is an executive producer with over 25 years of experience, specializing in the financial structuring of entertainment projects and the formation of investment funds. He has developed more than 100 projects and has experience working with the New York Stock Exchange and international consulting firms, focusing on the creation, financing, and scaling of audiovisual properties through investment structures and international co-production models.
JOSEPH N COHEN | EXECUTIVE PRODUCER
Joseph N. Cohen, a Yale and Oxford graduate, is a distinguished figure in both international finance and the entertainment industry. With a career spanning senior roles at prestigious firms like N.M. Rothschild & Sons, Salomon Brothers, and Lehman Brothers Kuhn Loeb, he specialized in investment banking, particularly in media and entertainment financing across the globe. Cohen's transition to producing and financing motion pictures led him to co-found American Entertainment Investors (AEI), advising major production companies like Alcon and River Road Entertainment. He has been instrumental in producing and financing successful films for decades. Those films include "La La Land," "12 Years a Slave," "Brokeback Mountain," "Sicario," "Point Break," "Begin Again," and "The Blindside."
JEAN-FRANÇOIS CAVELIER | PRODUCER
Jean-François Cavelier, originally from Paris, France, has over 33 years of experience in the combination of international Film and TV Sales/Distribution and Production. He was the Domestic and International Distribution Consultant for Comerica Bank (Los Angeles), Liberty International (Los Angeles), Pueblo (Geneva, Switzerland), and Syrena (Warsaw, Poland) on the financing side and held various Executive positions for worldwide film and television distribution companies in Hollywood before consulting with several clients both in the US, Latin America, France, and China. Cavelier has handled world sales of countless titles, active in the acquisition and distribution of media content in Mainland China and Latin America as well as in the distribution of Hollywood content to the global markets.
LAUREN MCGILL | PRODUCER
Lauren’s background in Research & Development and corporate finance in the private sector has brought great success to the firms that she has managed. For over twenty-five years, with a keen eye on the expense side of business, her skillset has guided every business in which she has been involved to grow exponentially while simultaneously controlling costs at every level. Lauren’s small-town Midwest roots provide a grounded and “salt of the earth” perspective for Pollack Films, which is her first venture into the world of entertainment. She has nonetheless taken a headfirst approach to reading each and every screenplay, book, and treatment under consideration by Pollack Films and she does not hesitate to share both her insights and opinions.
ROBERT K. CARSON | WRITER
Bob Carson has published over 1,000 articles in his personal 4H Club of Horses, Humor, History, and Hardball. His work has appeared in TROT Magazine, Hoof Beats Magazine, mental floss, Harness Racing Update, and as a columnist for the USTA website (Outside the Box) and Timelines (Ohio Historical). Bob has won the Hervey Award, Ohio Writers Short Story Award for Creative Fiction, and an International Media Award, along with publishing Minor Trips (Minor League Baseball Newsletter) for over twenty years. In addition to his freelance writing, he published a comic novel (The Voyage of Mess), a historical fiction novel (Searching for Hooker), a play (Out of the Woods), and a documentary baseball film (Touching Home). He is working on a novel about rare book collecting in the 1920s.
SIMON MILLER | SCREENWRITER
Simon holds a degree in philosophy and aesthetics from the University of Chicago, and was an art director and fashion photographer at the New York fashion advertising agency that he co-owned for 8 years. Simon was co-producer on the recent film SIX DANCE LESSONS IN SIX WEEKS. Simon is also an actor who has appeared in such shows as GOSSIP GIRL, VAMPIRE DIARIES, and CSI: MIAMI.