Forest Grove

Official Selection:
Sundance Creative Producing Lab

Forest Grove is a modern day fairy tale with nods to Pinnocchio, Blue Velvet, and The Swimmer. It is the story of Charlie Williams, a young boy on the verge of 14, who on one hot summer day accepts a dare to swim through the backyard pools of his gated community. More fake than real, Forest Grove sells safety, security, and peace of mind to conservative homeowners who hide behind well-manicured lawns and big, bright smiles. With each pool he swims, Charlie uncovers a world lived in desperation and fear, a world not so different from the one just outside the district's protective gates. However, as Charlie jumps fences and dips in and out of neighbors' lives, his cover story begins to unravel...Charlie doesn't belong here. He is a runaway. But he isn't running away from Forest Grove, he's running into it. As his fantasy life comes crashing down around him, Charlie must come to terms with the dark secret that brought him to Forest Grove before it catches up with him.