Synopsis

After taking their eternal vows, a young Lebanese nun and priest question their life decisions, until a small encounter finally provides them with answers.

ELIO TARABAY -Director 

For kids that grew up in a Lebanese Maronite Christian household, a very common fear is the gaze of all the portraits and paintings of the holy figures that are framed throughout the house. These artifacts made to protect us are now judging us, imposing their positions of power on us. It has taken from then till now to finally explore the real-life manifestation of this phenomenon in my life, my dad being a priest and my mom being a nun. 

As they both escaped the frames that encapsulated them, they have framed my own life in the shadow of their decision in almost the same way the church cast its shadow on them. As I attempt to escape, I present “An Album of Vows” a short film exploring my parents’ decisions in taking eternal vows at such a young age, and the parallels that has with most institutions that rob the childhood of their members.  I try to give them back this childhood by framing the short film in a quirky coming-of-age series of events; an “album” if you will, to contrast it with the seriousness of the situation. To most they are a priest and a nun who broke their vows and left an institution. To me they are kids wearing nun and priest costumes rehearsing lines in a play. A play I have now been recast in as I struggle with the same burdens they had to go through, myself being the number one radical sign of their leaving. 

In short, I am using this medium to not only tell the cool story of my parents, but to selfishly reconcile my own, in order to move forward as an independent person and artist who is not being held back by the costumes I’m forced to wear, the lines I’m forced to memorize, and the institutions I’m forced to function within. 

I hope you enjoy the film 

Elio Tarabay