Plot

A powerful film that examines the "progress" of our present day culture through the eyes of the oppressor.

In this short film, we examine a rare look through the eyes of the oppressor, John; an abused and tormented teenager who is seeking guidance and acceptance in his own isolated world that is intolerant to his newly self-discovered homosexuality. Outside of this closed off world lives Lync; an aristocratic Gay Activist, who believes that he has the power to help people exactly like John, who have no one to turn to for their sense of isolation, and fear of change. John violently breaks free of his world to seek out Lync, for solace and to answer the questions that he was too afraid to ask! Through the ignorance of John living in his new world and Lync's unwillingness and lack of fortitude to stand by what he preaches, John recoils, and turns back to the one thing he has been subject to all his life; hatred. Change dies, as a chance to learn is lost amongst the unwillingness of all involved to just listen.—Michael Yale Pollak

Death of a Nation is a powerful short film that examines the "progress" of our society since the making of the silent film "Birth of a Nation (1915)". In a time of hate crimes such as the Matthew Sheperd and James Byrd cases, we ask the question: "Have we truly evolved as a society?" In this film, we examine our present day culture with a rare look through the eyes of the oppressor, John, an underprivileged white male. Abused and tormented by his surroundings, intolerance and confusion grow. In juxtaposition, Lync, a young African American gay male, has his aristocratic goals set on protesting a white supremacist march with unconditional love and support from his father. Confused and searching, John initially seeks understanding and solace from Lync. Their connection is apparent in their deep religious convictions, but it is quickly overshadowed by the vast differences between them and the pressures of their individual associations and beliefs. The primordial battle between what is good and evil is played on in the most surprising manner. Cumulating in anticipated violence, but necessary for the unforeseeable conclusion.—Michael Yale Pollak