Crisis can bring people together in unprecedented ways. That's the theme of Rising, a new short film directed by Game of Thrones' David Nutter and written by Lena Waithe, creator of The Chi.
The film, which is the latest installment of the popular Ad Council "Love Has No Labels" PSA campaign, imagines how a massive storm and flood affects a group of neighbors who at first glance have little in common.
A white man stares menacingly at his neighbor, an American teen from an Indian Muslim family. Two women, who are a couple, run down the block and take note of the scene. Other residents, who are people of color, watch the white neighbor's intimidation with disapproval. Then disaster strikes and everyone becomes essential to the block's collective survival. The film was created pro bono by the ad agency R/GA and is designed to make viewers remember how vital people are to each other — even when political and cultural polarization threatens to tear America apart.
Nutter, who directed Game of Thrones' "Red Wedding" episode, said Rising was an opportunity to remind Americans that they share common bonds — and that they shouldn't wait for catastrophe to unite them. Nutter hopes people who watch the film will take stock of how fearful they might be of strangers and look for ways to extend acts of kindness and consideration to others.
"There’s not one of us that doesn’t need a helping hand," Nutter said.
Topics Activism Social Good Politics
