NewEnglandFilm.com

A boy goes on a quest to capture the sun.

Death makes us want to hold on. Empyrean is about finding the grace in letting go. Sadie’s father, Jim, is dying of brain cancer. It’s only been two months since the diagnosis but he’s already lost his sense of reality – his mind and memory are slipping away even faster than his body. It’s Sadie’s turn to help her mother care for Jim as he runs out the time on the days or weeks that he has left, but the beautiful, rugged landscape that they call home has become a threat as his behavior grows more erratic.

Sadie tries to maintain her strength, but the approach quickly deteriorates throughout restless nights and hazy days as she realizes the peace she hoped to make with her father now seems out of reach — it’s too late for goodbyes and apologies – there’s just the here and now, and the comfort to be found in seeing her father as a man who needs to be released from this world as gently as possible, even if it breaks her heart.

A distraught young pitcher finds himself alone on the mound; it’s the bottom of the ninth, bases loaded, no outs. With his team only up by one, and the crowd roaring in disapproval, the pitcher stares at one empty seat… this was never about a game.