MONTICELLO, NY — Nicholas Giuricich is preparing to direct a short film he wrote, “The Commitment,” this coming March in Monticello. An intense family drama, the film treats the difficult question of whether to stay or to leave the abusive people in one’s life.

Giuricich, a senior at New York University’s (NYU) Tisch School of the Arts, grew up in Bethesda, MD and graduated from Walter Johnson High School in 2010. His previous short film, “Paper Animals,” placed as a finalist in NYU’s New Visions and New Voices Film Festival.

This short film follows the internal struggle of Lisa Harris, a young woman on the cusp of adulthood. Locked in a never-ending power struggle with her emotionally abusive, recently divorced mother, Lisa seeks to gain independence from her by joining the Army. However, her younger brother teaches her the power of empathy, allowing her to finally connect with her mother in a tender, human way.

The film will be completed this summer. From there, the film will be submitted to several national and international film festivals including Cannes, Tribeca and Sundance.

More information about the project and opportunities to help can be found on the website: http://nlg239.wix.com/the-commitment-film.