Filmmaker Statement

I made Once Ethereal to explore the space around suffering. While many stories focus on the internal battle, I was drawn to the perspective of those on the outside, the people who care deeply, want to help, and are often left feeling powerless. Watching someone you love struggle can be isolating in its own way. You’re close, but never fully inside their experience. This film reflects that emotional distance and the quiet toll it takes. Once Ethereal is my attempt to acknowledge that pain is rarely carried by one person alone. It ripples outward, shaping the lives of everyone involved.