Exploring the Depth of Grief and Resilience in A Place to Fall Down

By Daisy Franklin for Film Daily

Few films manage to capture the raw vulnerability of grief while illuminating the flickers of hope that follow. In his poignant directorial debut, A Place to Fall Down, Duane Hansen Fernandez delivers a heartfelt exploration of human resilience in the face of tragedy. Starring the critically acclaimed Clifton Collins Jr. (Jockey), the short film follows Jose, an elite mechanic, as he wrestles with the profound loss of his wife. Set over a single day, the film balances moments of quiet introspection with the unexpected twists that life sometimes offers, reminding us all that the world works in mysterious ways.

This deeply personal work, inspired by Fernandez’s own experiences with loss, delves into universal questions about healing and the strength of the human spirit. With a thoughtful script, powerful performances, and a visually compelling narrative, A Place to Fall Down stands as a testament to the enduring power of storytelling.

In the director’s own words, the film is a labor of love born out of a brutal five-year stretch of his life. Fernandez opens up about his vulnerability during the creative process, aiming to connect with audiences who have felt the isolating weight of grief. “If this film reaches even one person and makes them feel connected and seen,” Fernandez shares, “then I will be the one who feels a little less alone in the world.”

(1) What is A Place to Fall Down all about?

A Place to Fall Down is, on the surface, a film about grief and loneliness – something I think a lot of us are unfortunately managing these days.

But, it’s also a film about hope and the resilience of the human spirit. Ultimately, it serves as a reminder to us all that the world can be an absolutely magical place in the most unexpected ways.

(2) There is so much texture and detail in the film, a lot of layers, can you talk us through your aesthetic and what you were hoping to achieve with this look?

My visual style is an attempt to create a look that feels lived in and honest. My favorite images are ones that make you feel like you’re there – the feeling like they’re moments you have already lived, and will inevitably live again. In the film, the moments that are soft – even slightly out of focus – are snapshots, a second captured in time, and there’s a wistfulness there; an authenticity in the intentional imperfections. It feels relatable because almost all of us experience the world this way.

My goal with A Place to Fall Down was to feature a really rich, cinematic narrative that was simple enough to allow both the story and Clifton’s incredible performance to flow naturally. The hope is that with each additional viewing, audiences will notice how complex the visual story actually is – there are a lot of little moments throughout the film designed to gently guide the viewer to an emotional place, while never forcing them there.

(3) What challenges did you face while making this film?

Honestly, the very first and big challenge was simply sharing the script. While I always put a little bit of myself in all my stories, this one was the most autobiographical, while still changing the variables. The act of handing it over to someone else to read made me feel incredibly vulnerable.

When it came to production, I knew our biggest challenge was going to be time. We didn’t have a big budget, so we had to do a lot with a little. We only had one day to shoot the film – and not even a full day at that. On production day, cameras were up at 8:30am and we wrapped at 5:45pm. It took nine hours to knock out 11 pages.

We were able to overcome the challenge not only because we had an incredibly talented cast and crew, but we were extraordinarily prepared. We spent months working out every scene from every angle, and when it came time to make magic, all that preparation paid off.

As a director, I have a very fluid workflow that allows us to move efficiently through production. While I believed we could shoot this in one day, I knew it would absolutely require an experienced actor with immense talent. As I started working on who could bring Jose to life and perform under such tight circumstances, there was just one name that kept rising to the top of the list: Clifton Collins Jr.

Our protagonist, Jose, has a very complex journey, and it needed to be performed with a very delicate balance of nuance and subtlety. The actor needed to contain these emotions and allow them to sit, simmer and build throughout the story. The glance of an eye needed to speak more volumes than a monologue. This precision – this ability to visibly unfold the pain of the past… I knew there was only one person that could do this. Clifton Collins Jr. is undoubtedly one of the greatest actors of our generation; his name is already etched up there with the greatest of all time.

I’ll be forever grateful that Clifton took my call, that he read the script, and that he believed in me. His performance was nothing short of extraordinary.

(4) As it relates to A Place to Fall Down, what are you most proud of?

With our film, I think the thing I’ve been most proud of is how people have connected with it in so many different and meaningful ways. There was a lot of room for interpretation with the story, and I didn’t want to force anyone to a destination – I wanted them to be pulled into the story and let their own life experiences impact their personal meaning of A Place to Fall Down.

(5) So what is something audiences might miss?

I’m very proud of the sleight of hand we were able to achieve with some moments in the film. I don’t want to give anything away, but I can say that every single detail, no matter how minute, is there for a reason. Every item you see in the background, every cut, every sound effect, every music queue, every beat, every word. We didn’t do anything for the sake of doing it – there are so many smaller stories that are taking place in this film if you look for them.

One example: Jose is, naturally, wearing his autobody shop shirt. That logo took about six months to develop, and everything about it is critical to the story in some way. We probably did 50 different versions, and I even personally illustrated the main element countless times, to get everything exactly right. I can tell you it’s not just a logo, it’s an entire story.

(6) What do you hope people take away from A Place to Fall Down?

My hope is that anyone who watches this film feels a little less alone, and a little more optimistic. I hope they understand that to heal, we have to do the work – even when it hurts. There’s no other way.

And of course that they remember there is always magic out there, you just have to look for it.

(7) Three of your favorite films of all time?

Her, directed by Spike Jonze (2013)

Nebraska, directed by Alexander Payne (2013)

Beginners, directed by Mike Mills (2011)