Roots Beneath the Skin

After a devastating breakup, Anne (22) signs up for an intensive plant-memorization course.
Hoping distance will quiet her thoughts.

The course takes place deep in the rainforest, over several isolated weekends where the outside world feels far away.

Surrounded by towering trees and unfamiliar sounds, Anne meets a small group of strangers who slowly become companions. Each of them is escaping something, though not all escapes are honest. One of them being Steph (36), an older man with a calm presence and a sharp mind. He speaks little and listens deeply. He seems to understand Anne in ways that unsettle her.

What begins as quiet conversations turns into a dangerous emotional closeness. Anne is drawn to him despite the warnings in her own mind.

Desire, grief, and loneliness blur together, forcing her to confront uncomfortable truths.

The rainforest does not offer escape.

It offers clarity.