Placing the question, "Does God exist?" at the center of his first feature length film came naturally for writer-director Ian Ebright. After crafting multiple thoughtful short films about morality and the social contracts that bind (or unbind) us, debating the existence of God was a natural progression for the Seattle-based filmmaker.
When I met Ian in September at the Gig Harbor Film Festival and he pitched the plot of The Way We Speak to me at the festival’s infamous Friday night party, I knew it would be worth the 9AM screening time.
And, boy, was I not wrong. After watching it, I immediately wanted to dig in further to the making of the film and the themes it depicts: Pride... Grief... God... The power of Certainty and its inevitable unraveling… All delivered in a sharp and compelling package.
Patrick Fabian (Better Call Saul) leads the brilliant ensemble cast as Simon Harrington, an up and coming atheist writer and public intellectual hungry for recognition. Set to debate his best friend onstage over the question “Does God exist?“ everything begins to unravel when his friend falls ill and is replaced by a young, successful, and attractive Christian author (played by Kailey Rhodes).
Complicating things further is Simon’s relationship with his — also markedly more successful — wife, Claire (Diana Coconubo), who requires his care and attention in way that he wants, but struggles, to give.
The Way We Speak is a sharp and humbling look at the modern man and the lengths he may go to in order to be seen and heard in a cultural climate that is done with all things white, male, and “old.” In our conversation, Ian and I discuss the way stories shape us and how the film came to fruition. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!
The Way We Speak is available to watch on streaming platforms like Apple and Amazon Prime and Ian’s short films are available to watch on his website. Listen to our conversation here or feel free to tune into wherever you get your podcasts by searching “Climate Change in the Multiverse.”
Cheers!
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