Secrets, Sacrifice and Survival: "EXIT" Leaves a Lasting Impression

I didn’t think you’d come.

“EXIT” is a short film directed by Karin Trachtenberg. A devoted wife meets her ailing husband’s mistress for the first time. As they talk, a proposition arises that will change everything. 

This dark story lingers on your mind long after the credits roll. “EXIT” is a compelling film that studies a single conversation between two women. The short film creates a poignant examination of love, forgiveness, and impossible decisions. 

Karin Trachtenberg has spent decades in theater as an actor, director, writer, and producer. She has directed two other films, including “Three A.M.” and “Pumpkin Pie.” Her primary focus is female-based narratives. 

“EXIT” is based on “Three Exits,” a play by Gino Dilordo. Trachtenberg said she encouraged the playwright for years to write a story that centered on middle-aged women. She then starred in and produced the play at the Providence Fringe Festival in 2018. 

“I was drawn to the moral complexity of two women connected by the same man, forced to confront difficult questions about love, loyalty, and compassion,” Trachtenburg said.

When she wanted to make a film adaptation, Trachtenberg and Dilorio adapted the screenplay from the first scene of “Three Exits.” Translating a stage show to a movie script wasn’t as easy a process as she thought. They both learned how to tell the story through image rather than dialogue. 

The film examines a fascinating interaction between two women. Liz Bishop (Mary) and Julia Trueblood (Karen) play the roles of a wife confronting her husband’s mistress - except in a completely different conversation. 

Bishop and Trueblood are riveting in their performances. It’s a tense conversation, with each woman barring steel walls, but a quiet vulnerability lingers in the room. They’re opening their lives to one another, a path they thought they would never cross. The woman also open up about their relationship, which sparks different forms of love.  

Trachtenberg worked with both actors in previous projects. “Together, Julia and Liz had a natural chemistry that created the tension and connection the story needed,” Trachtenberg said. 

The dialogue is the most important part of this short film. The women make small talk, though awkward with past history. Every exchange feels authentic and emotionally grounded.  

 The full project took almost a year to complete, with filming lasting four days in Nov. 2025. It took months to develop the script, secure locations, and get a crew together for the production. 

Trachtenberg shared that one of the greatest challenges was maintaining dramatic tension and creating unique movement during dialogue sequences. They had to sit down in the editing room and cut one-third of the dialogue.

“In a short film, every line of dialogue and every shot needs to move the story forward; otherwise, it slows the pace and you risk losing audience attention,” she said. 

From the opening shot, which pans several objects in the kitchen, every shot in this film was carefully planned. The house also plays an important role, signifying life, history, and secrets. 

Lynn Weissman was the cinematographer. The one shot that engrossed me was when Mary cleans up spilled coffee. From the angle it’s shot, you can feel the tension of the situation. 

“We wanted the audience to feel as though they were sitting in the room with these women, experiencing every shift in power, vulnerability, and connection,” said Trachtenburg. 

“Exit” asks difficult questions without offering easy answers. Instead, it invites viewers to consider how love can exist alongside betrayal.

“I hope the film leaves audiences discussing the choices that these women make and reflecting on or challenging their own perspective on love, loyalty, and end-of-life care,” Trachtenburg said. 

Karin Trachtenberg’s “EXIT” is an intimate and beautifully acted film. The final shot really hits you.