IN THE MIDDLE OF THE RIVER

Awounded military veteran returns home to face the war within his own dysfunctional family, as he tries to piece together the reasons behind his sister’s mysterious death.

Led to believe his abusive grandfather is responsible for his twin sister’s recent death, Gabriel (26) returns to his humble home next to a Native American reservation in rural New Mexico. Yearning to protect his family, he swears to secretly kill his grandfather. Yet at the moment of truth his plan is ruined and they are forced to spend the day together. On the road the two war veterans begin speaking about their distinct yet similar traumatic war experiences. Despite his rage, Gabriel realizes the world is not as black and white as he once thought and slowly he is forced to accept responsibility for his part in the family crisis to find peace.

Trailer

Director

DAMIAN JOHN HARPER was born in 1978 in Colorado/USA. After receiving his degree in Anthropology, he worked as an Ethnologist in Southern Mexico before studying Film Directing at the University of Television and Film in Munich. His graduation short film TEARDROP won numerous awards in over 50 festival competitions around the world. His feature debut LOS ÁNGELES participated in the Berlinale Talents Project Market, premiered at the Berlinale in 2014, and won him the German First Steps Award. IN THE MIDDLE OF THE RIVER, developed in the Cannes Cinéfondation, is his second fiction feature.

photos © Weydemann Bros.