The Designated Mourner

Set in an unnamed country, at a time that could be tomorrow or the day after, The Designated Mourner examines the lives of three characters: Howard, Judy, and Jack. As members of an intellectually elite “high-brow” circle in American society, they find their lives threatened as an increasingly repressive regime spreads violence throughout the society, cracking down on any and all potential sources of dissent. In a series of candid, even shocking reminiscences, they recount the death of an era of ideas and compassion, as one of them is left to mourn a group and a way of life that has passed. Opening right after the 2004 Presidential election, The Designated Mourner is a beautifully dooming examination of how we define ourselves and our role in society.