I Never Said Goodbye is an experimental narrative film that draws from the autobiographical experiences of a Ukrainian immigrant living in Baltimore, who loses his mother. The film was conceived when my mother died last summer after several months of illness. As an only child, with no connection to my father, my mother was the person that represented home. I had no idea how lost I would feel when she died. As the writer, director, and editor of the film, I see the evolution of the film deeply rooted in my personal experiences.  

The story revolves around characters who symbolize various socio-economic sides of Baltimore: an Eastern European immigrant, Alex, whose world undergoes a monumental shift with the loss of his mother; Shannon, a Black funeral home director who represents a maternal archetype; and Ramone, a Black yoga teacher whose story echoes Alex’s childhood experiences. Rooted in the characters’ internal obstacles, the film explores themes of racial and economic disparities, isolation, and grief, while delving into the discovery of shared humanity among individuals who seem to lead contrasting lives.

In I Never Said Goodbye, I am urging the viewer to foster understanding and truly see the humanity in every person. The narrative oscillates between realism and supernatural, weaving in elements of folklore. Wrestling with grief, Alex slowly ventures beyond his comfort zone and begins to connect with people beyond his insular immigrant bubble. To Alex’s surprise, these newfound connections help Alex navigate his own grief and find a new understanding of himself and his place in the world.

This film is experimental in nature, merging narrative style, documentary, and magical realism. The narrative scenes are juxtaposed with real-time pauses, creating space for the viewers to empathize with the character.  By weaving together different modalities of capturing a story, I aim to create a film that both asks the audience to suspend disbelief while also grounding them in the tangible realities of Baltimore.