Max Minus knows grief. He lost his father when he was 7, something that he says “sticks with you” — something San Antonio and Texas Hill Country residents certainly can relate to after the July 4th floods. With a soulfulness that belies his age, Minus has created and directed a profound film short, “The Deep End,” that will premiere July 26 at the San Antonio Film Festival. It was also screened at the Oscar-Qualifying Los Angeles Shorts International Film Festival in early July.

A story that addresses grief, connection, loss and all those unanswered questions we harbour when people we love die, “The Deep End” bypasses maudlin to be magical. It’s a deep breath, a moment in time for a pool cleaner who awakens on the anniversary of his father’s death knowing he needs to keep busy. He goes to work and while scrubbing the deep end of the pool, experiences a moment of panic. He falls into the water, and much like something from “The Lion, the Witch and The Wardrobe,” he finds himself in an alternative realm. As he climbs from the water, he sees his father, waiting for him on a pool deck by a grand house with a beer. The place he has landed is a world between life and death, where the pool cleaner has the opportunity to discuss things with his father, to fill the holes, to metaphorically reach out and connect. In a heartfelt dialogue, the two have a sweet moment. It’s dreamy, surreal, touching and thought provoking. You may cry, but you might also laugh.

“I wanted to approach this with humor,” Minus said.

Born in Austin, Max Minus grew up in San Antonio and Austin, where he was exposed at an early stage to what he calls “an eclectic art scene.” In San Antonio, he lived in the Stone Oak neighborhood.

“I first discovered a love for storytelling at Holy Spirit Catholic School where small creative assignments sparked an interest in screenwriting,” he said.

That passion grew at Central Catholic High School, and Minus soon realized he might be able to turn writing into a career. After a year at the University of Texas at San Antonio, he transferred to the University of Texas at Austin to study radio, television, film.

“That move laid the foundation for my journey to Los Angeles and a future in this industry,” he said. Max’s filmmaking style has developed during his eight years working in Los Angeles. He acquired a love for producing after working on several docuseries, ever “yearning to tell stories that searched for deeper meanings in the normally obscure parts of life.” He looks forward to returning to Texas to reconnect with his roots in future works.

In “The Deep End,” Max collaborates with creative partner Duane Garcia and writer Yusef Zeidan. Taking the prodigious theme of grief and approaching it from a lighter lens, the film will pose personal questions for viewers such as “What would you ask if you had the chance to question a loved one who died?” A deeply human story, which manages to remind us that the dead are always living near us in another dimension, “The Deep End” should not be missed.

Watch “The Deep End”

3 p.m. July 26 at Radius Center
106 Auditorium Circle, Suite 120
safilm.com
The San Antonio Film Festival (SAFILM) takes place July 22-27. It features screenings, industry panels and filmmaker afterparties. Events will be held at the Tobin Center, Radius Center, and EVO Entertainment.

 

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