Filmmaker Sarah Hanssen finds herself in possession of her deceased father’s abstract expressionist paintings. Growing up in his New York studio, surrounded by the smells of gin and turpentine, ever shifting canvases and a string of young girlfriends, the works contain mixed messages of obsession, secrets, freedom and selfishness. Something doesn’t feel right about displaying these paintings around her home anymore, as if they are haunted objects, holding her back. After a lifetime of suppression, the time has come to confront the secret of sexual abuse.  The filmmaker embarks on a journey to paint in what is missing: the tortured artist, nude women, cigarettes, ashtrays, beer cans, gin bottles, various pets, raucous house guests, and herself. The project soon expands to involve collaborations with additional artists, revelations about other women still affected by their relationship with her father, and the destruction of a devastating mythology and healing through collaborative creative expression. Many of these individuals share their own experiences with trauma along the way.

Our deepest hope is that by documenting Sarah’s healing, combining it with collaborative artistic expression, as well as expert commentary, viewers will also feel inspired to set out on their own journey of restoration and growth. By offering up Sarah’s story, we hope to share an example of restoration. We are passionate about highlighting stories of personal growth because, without them, many people are isolated without the cathartic validation of their experience.