THE
GRIEF
COUNSELOR

Director's Statement

Hypervigilance, insomnia, and emotional numbness developed in response to trauma can be assets in wartime settings where danger lurks at every corner. However, my work on this film and conversations with veterans over the past few years has driven home one point. While these coping mechanisms can be vital in combat, those same instincts are detrimental in civilian life, potentially leading to a diagnosis of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

Lindsey, a veteran consultant on this film, once told me that when she joined the Army at 19, it was the first time in her life she felt she "belonged" somewhere. Just a year prior to that conversation, my therapist had bluntly asked me, "Have you ever felt like you have a home or that you belong?" I still don't have an answer to that question. Being an immigrant with mental illness and a filmmaker raised in a non-artistic family, I always felt like an "outsider," even among my own relatives and friends. So, the stories of veterans feeling displaced, both at home and abroad, resonate with me.

Enter April, a character who embodies the fragility of human experience. She misses the uniform and hasn't fully accepted the reality of life without it. But standing at the edge of despair, she also embodies the resilience that resides in all of us when confronted with oppressive guilt. Her journey mirrors mine, as neither of us knows what lies beyond the closing credits—a parallel odyssey of navigating an unknown future. Neither textbooks nor professional guides can offer a roadmap to "curing" PTSD or severe identity disturbances, only the realization that progress comes from relentless effort and self-discovery.

THE GRIEF COUNSELOR isn't just a film; it's a tribute to resilience that reflects our shared humanity. Like April, it embodies the spirit of perseverance, celebrating imperfections and facing the unknown with bravery. Cheers to those who continue to fight. 

Bishen Sen
Director