Director Lisa Rubisch of Park Pictures has partnered with HP Inc. and Zac&Adam to address the current tense political climate in the topical holiday short film Togetherness. In the film, a holiday family gathering has an undercurrent of trepidation and the specter of current events haunting the gathering. The joys of reunion and festivities quickly give way to a common scenario faced in many households today: the heated political debate. While keeping political leanings and details vague, Rubisch communicates that many family members hold opposite viewpoints, causing tempers to flare. A woman is forced from the table after a clash with her sister.
The story ends on a more hopeful note through the wisdom of one of the children. After a daughter posts a collage of family photos on the fridge, both sisters realize that their bonds as siblings and role-models are stronger than any difference of opinion. The camera pans from the house as one sister extends a peace offering of holiday pie to the other, and the tagline, “If we never reach out, we’ll never come together.”
