Title: Down In Number 5
FILM SYNOPSIS
Rooted in the Southern Gothic storytelling tradition, Down in Number 5 is both a tender portrait of a man pushed to his limits for the love of his son and a haunting rumination on family and community in Appalachia.
DIRECTOR’S STATEMENT
Down in Number 5 is inspired by the true story of Carl Short and his developmentally disabled son Sammy. Sammy was my father’s childhood playmate. But when my father grew up, Sammy remained a child. Many years later when Carl realized he was dying, he approached my father to take Sammy in.
Carl represents a bygone era when people helped each other to get by. Without this community support structure, Carl’s back was against the wall. These circumstances, combined with the Appalachian mentality of stoicism and graceful acceptance, may have brought Carl to his final decision. Down in Number 5 is my attempt to fill in the blanks, to tell the story of Carl and Sammy with compassion, dignity and respect.
