Whitewash

Bruce is a widowed snowplow driver whose guilt after fatally striking a pedestrian drives him to extreme measures. Isolated by winter and the remote setting, he rehearses his police statements and engages in imagined conversations with authority figures. His mental state deteriorates as paranoia and self-reproach collide, making him brittle and obsessive. The snowbound landscape mirrors his internal weather—cold, silent, and unyielding.

Paul is the man Bruce encounters in his vehicle while attempting to commit suicide; he becomes Bruce's houseguest and briefly forges a casual friendship, though he tests Bruce's generosity by asking for a loan. His presence exposes Bruce's fragility and desire for human connection, as well as Bruce's reluctance to give in to desperation. He steals from Bruce, and Bruce accidentally strikes him with the snowplow, catalyzing the fatal turn of events. Paul's interactions spark Bruce's guilt and complicate the trust within an isolated community.

Eric is the owner of the large house near a frozen lake who confronts Bruce and becomes part of a wider search when Bruce goes missing. He embodies wary neighborliness and protective instincts, representing the tension between hospitality and suspicion in a tight-knit, snowbound community. His guarded demeanor reveals the practical, survival-oriented mindset of rural residents when danger intrudes. The woods and shed he inhabits underscore themes of intrusion and confinement.

Simone is the owner's daughter who discovers Bruce in the shed, marking a pivotal moment when the intruder is exposed. She embodies innocence confronted by violent intrusion, and her presence heightens the town's sense of vulnerability. Her encounter with Bruce foreshadows the consequences of Bruce's isolation and secrecy in a close-knit community.