The Astronot (2018)

Daniel McKovsky was a lost soul drifting across the universe. On his own for 30 years, he spends his nights staring up at the heavens, a brass telescope his sole companion. As he gazes upward, his mind drifts back to that day when as a boy his father didn't return from World War II. Having already lost his mother at childbirth, this second blow sends Daniel down a dark path of isolation deep into the backwoods of Central Oregon. As he stares up at the moon in the 1950s and 60s, Daniel dreams of becoming an astronaut. The irony though is he rarely ventures far from his own surroundings. The sole spark in his life at this time was following the space race between the United States and Soviet Union to become the first nation to reach the moon. In 1969 Daniel's life got bumped out of orbit. A young postal worker named Sandy walked up his driveway with a package for him. She was the antithesis of Daniel; outgoing and vivacious versus his quiet, withdrawn nature. Their styles intertwined into something beautiful though which assisted Daniel to emerge from his recluse. He shared his passion for astronomy with Sandy who became infected with his enthusiasm and the overall grandeur of a possible moon landing. Despite this remarkable turnaround in Daniel's life, he still harbored unresolved fears with regards to the loss of those close to him. This obstacle continued to hound him as he strove to grow closer with Sandy. The question was could he stave off such demons or would he allow them to envelop him. This was the challenge for 'The Astronot'.