Separation 2021

An incompetent illustrator named Jeff Vahn struggles with the chaos of his personal life, particularly his tumultuous relationship with his ex-wife, Maggie Vahn. After a traumatic incident where their temperamental daughter, Jenny Vahn, suffers a fall from the attic, Maggie’s resentment towards Jeff solidifies. She resolves to end their marriage, believing that her daughter should remain distant from Jeff until he can get his life together, despite her own emotional detachment from Jenny.

As Jeff reflects on the past—those happier moments of marriage and being a father—he faces the possibility of losing not only the divorce but also his career. In a moment of desperation, he contemplates agreeing to Maggie’s demands. However, fate takes a tragic turn when Maggie, distracted by their heated argument, is fatally struck by a vehicle.

The funeral which follows is fraught with tension as Maggie’s father, Paul Rivers, causes an uproar, leaving Jenny bewildered about her new reality. In an attempt to deliver a meaningful eulogy, Jeff finds himself at a loss, which culminates in a disastrous moment where a poorly-received portrait he brought ignites, melting away his painted features—a symbolic representation of his failed attempts to connect with his late wife.

In the emotional fallout, eerie spirits seem to haunt their home, leading to disturbing nightmares for Jeff while his relationship with Jenny becomes increasingly strained. As Jenny slips into a state of depression and exhibits unusual behavior, Paul gears up to take legal action for custody, adding pressure to an already fraught situation. Desperate for work, Jeff reaches out to an old acquaintance for a small job, yet during this period of chaos, he subconsciously begins to draw a mysterious figure that, unbeknownst to him, watches over his daughter.