Many events in life don’t go as smoothly as people initially planned, even as they strive to make their expected deaths as peaceful and dignified as possible. That’s certainly the case for actress Deanna Rooney’s protagonist of Joanna in the new grippingly relatable comedy-drama short, ‘Out for Delivery.’

The movie contemplates the conflicting emotions people experience after they’re informed by their doctors that their illness has become terminal. Up-and-coming filmmaker, Chelsea Christer was inspired to write, direct and edit the project after one of her family friends made the decision to pursue end of life medication after losing a very painful battle with cancer.

As showcased in ‘Out for Delivery,’ during the pandemic, companies started making it possible to ship the medication directly to patients. However, the shipping company lost the package as it was being sent to Christer’s friend, much like it happens to Joanna in the dramedy. There was no trace of it, and customer service was extremely unhelpful.

When the filmmaker first heard the true-life story, the absolute atrocity and absurdity of the situation made her laugh. However, she soon began to feel regret for finding dark comedy in the true story, which inspired her explore those feelings by writing them into the script.

While the overall story can be daunting, the story’s comedically relatable nature led it to thrive in its World Premiere during the Short Narrative Film category during this month’s Sundance Film Festival. The project initially premiered during the Short Film Program 2 on Friday, January 24 at 12pm MT at the Egyptian Theatre in Park City.

In ‘Out for Delivery,’ following a long battle with cancer, Joanna’s doctor finally gives her the unfortunate news that she’s entering the final weeks of her life, which will be incredibly painful. Luckily, she lives in a state that offers access to Death With Dignity end of life medication. With the help of modern technology, the company is able to conveniently ship the medication directly to her home.

Unfortunately, the systems in place don’t necessarily make anything easier. Joanna is faced with a series of mishaps that make the last few hours of her life some of the most stressful. However, that all changes when she encounters Mark (Martin Starr) in the final hours of her life.

Rooney spends the majority of the short’s runtime on screen alone until Johanna and Mark meet, which makes their instant connection even more gratifying and soulful. The actress infuses her protagonist with an equally drastic desperation and silly exasperation to find comfort and reassurance that she’s making the right decision. Her decision to even share feelings and explain her choices with Mark make her end-of-life journey even more spiritual and heartwarming.

Starr even infuses his signature witty and off-beat humor with depth and flair the more gets to know and understand Joanne. While he initially appears hesitant to help her embrace what she believes to be her best end-of-life option, Mark ultimately becomes the reassuring guiding force in Joanna’s journey.

Christer leads the actors to connect with their characters with ease and confidence. The filmmaker elicits sadness and frustration from Rooney as she finds to find comfort and meaning in the way her life turned out. Starr, meanwhile, uses humor to counterbalance the disappointments that have plagued both of their lives.

‘Out for Delivery’ is driven by its endearing cast, heartwarming blend of humor and serious contemplation, and a creative concept. While the movie embraces the jokes Joanna comes to embrace in order to find lasting comfort, it also thrives on its dramatically genuine human connections.