Make Pretend
MAKE PRETEND
Start Here Films
Written and Directed by
D.J. Mendel
Cinematographer
Salvatore Interlandi
Production Design
Cristina Nunes
Editor
D.J. Mendel
Original Music
Cynthia Hopkins
With
Margaret Rose Champagne
Lisa Hickman
Colleen Werthmann
D.J. Mendel
David Cote
Josh Stark
Fred Neumann
Alice Mendel
"There's a lot more strange behavior and delusion in the lives of these modest people in a small Poconos town. D.J. Mendel has made a film that mixes absurd humor and serious drama. It's an oddly original and often touching story about tenuous family connections and human loneliness."
- Joshua Tanzer, offoffreview
“A trio of women who have resigned themselves to fantasy after losing their passion for life find reality tearing away at their fragile facades in director, D.J. Mendel’s incisive comedy drama." - All Movie Guide
Stuck in a job with no room for advancement and resenting the loveless relationship she shares with her boyfriend, small town girl Baby decides that the only way to become a woman is to have a baby. Hoping to avoid the technicality of actually giving birth or caring for a living human being, Baby opts to care for a small plastic doll and makes believe that it is her child.
It’s not long before Baby"s former best friend Becky grows increasingly jealous after constantly vying for her attention and, taking a cue from her imaginative friend, Becky makes up a lover to confide. Also jealous is Baby's older sister Sissy, who decides to steal Baby's "child" in a bid to gain attention.
As the three women sink ever deeper into their delusions, they soon discover that the only way out may be to finally confront their troubles and take a chance at improving their situations.