THE SECOND is a Strong Short Film Exploring Honor and Pride in a Modern Duel
Here’s a great short film for you to watch titled The Second, from filmmakers Tony Zhou and Taylor Ramos (Every Frame a Painting).
It reimagines a world where modern duels replace unresolved arguments. Paul Sun-Hyung Lee stars as Phillip, a father thrust into the role of "second" for his son (Ethan Hwang), who has wronged someone and escalates matters to a formal duel.
While Phillip offers advice and pleads for reason, his son’s stubborn pride leads them toward an irreversible moment that unfolds in a single, devastating second.
The film is said to delve “into the complexities of masculinity and the life-altering choice a young man faces when confronted with the weight of his mistakes.”
The film is an emotional punch and it offers a thought-provoking and hauntingly relevant story.