BitterSweet Truths: A Conversation with Gabriela Kulaif and Steven Martini
Filmmaking partners Gabriela Kulaif and Steven Martini didn’t just collaborate on their debut feature BitterSweet—they lived it. The deeply personal film draws from their real-life experiences navigating new parenthood, neurodivergence, and the challenges of the child welfare system. Raw, heartfelt, and unexpectedly funny, the story came to life as they transformed pain into art. In this candid joint interview, Gabriela and Steven open up about the creative process, healing through storytelling, and what it means to share their journey with the world—and with their children.
This story is rooted in your real-life experiences as a couple and family. What was the moment you both knew you wanted to turn it into a film—and how did that conversation begin?
GABRIELA: Steven started writing the script during the two months he was required by DCFS to stay away from me and our home. When the court finally let him return, he told me he had been writing a script about what had happened to us. But it wasn’t until about a year later that we decided to actually make it into a movie.
STEVEN: I knew it was a movie the minute the cops started being dicks to me—mocking Gabi’s accent, not taking anything seriously. When the “bit/beat” moment happened, it was like I went out of my body and saw the whole thing unfolding like a scene. It actually made me laugh, even though I was terrified. I ended up crashing at a friend’s—he’s a sculptor and musician—and that creative space helped me start putting it all on the page. DCFS closed our case relatively quickly, but we kept attending group therapy, meeting other families, hearing even tougher stories. It became clear that what we’d been through was a kind of unspoken rite of passage for many people. Over that year, I finished the script. I shot a test scene with us, but Gabi was super critical of it. I got defensive—it was just a test! But she challenged me, said she could do better. I dared her to. She said yes. That’s when we decided to make the whole movie ourselves.
What were the biggest challenges—and biggest joys—of working so closely together as creative partners, especially on such a personal and emotional story?
GABRIELA: Honestly, working together has been the biggest blessing in our relationship. It felt like the missing piece. We complement each other’s strengths, and 99% of the time we’re in sync. There’s a really positive, creative flow between us.
STEVEN: I’m so proud of the environment we created on set—and especially of how Gabi led the crew. Film sets can be chaotic, but we kept things energized and collaborative. We filmed over several different blocks of time, so it wasn’t all at once, but our crew kept coming back. It felt like a family. That kind of synchronicity is rare, especially on indie productions.
You’ve both said this film reflects your actual journey through love, new parenthood, and neurodivergence. How did telling your story on screen help you process or heal from it?
GABRIELA: When you go through something traumatic, talking about it—and even laughing about parts of it—is a way to heal. We never set out to make a comedy, but the humor just emerged naturally. That was healing in itself.
STEVEN: Writing it, rehearsing it, shooting it—physically moving through the scenes, take after take—it becomes a kind of ritual. The healing was real. We were transforming something painful into something meaningful, even celebratory.
Steven, this is your directorial debut. What surprised you most about stepping into that role—and how did having Gabriela as a collaborator shape the experience?
STEVEN: I’ve been around long enough to know that when you hire a director, they usually want to rewrite the script—and that’s how you get their best work. But I didn’t want anyone else telling this story. It was too personal. Gabi was the best producer I could’ve asked for—she handled the logistics, the hiring, everything. It’s an insane amount of work, but she was a natural.
Gabriela, you wore multiple hats—producer, actress, post-production lead. What motivated you to take on so much, and how did you balance the emotional weight of the story with the practical demands of making the film?
GABRIELA: I never planned to wear all those hats. When Steven said he was ready to make the film, I suggested some Brazilian actresses for the lead, but he said he wanted me to play the role. That meant a lot. I’ve loved acting since I graduated in Fine Arts at 17. As for producing, during a test shoot, I was super critical about everything. Steven got annoyed and asked, “Do you want to produce this yourself?” I stopped and thought about it—then said yes. It was spontaneous, but it came so naturally. The hardest part? Producing is a TON of work!
Was there a scene or moment during filming that unexpectedly hit harder than you thought it would, either emotionally or personally?
GABRIELA: The vibe on set was so positive, and the cast and crew were such a joy that I felt supported the entire time. But when I saw the first cut of the film—it hit me. I got depressed for a few days realizing, That actually happened to me.
STEVEN: For me, it was the scene where I get pulled out of the attic by the cops and propose to Gabi. That was all done handheld, in a single take—seven takes, actually. I proposed seven times. We cried every time. Also, the courtroom scene at the end. I’d avoided writing it because it felt cliché, but clichés exist for a reason. I left the page blank until the shoot day. Then I wrote the monologue and started singing. Watching it in the theater in Idyllwild made me cry.
If your kids watch this movie years from now, what do you hope they’ll understand about their parents—and about the time in your lives this film captures?
GABRIELA: I hope they’re inspired to turn their own pain into something beautiful, just like we did.
STEVEN: I hope they laugh at how wacky we were and feel how deeply we loved them. I want them to see how we used creativity to make sense of hard things. I hope they carry that forward in their own lives.
Looking back, what does BitterSweet mean to each of you now—as artists, as parents, and as partners? And what do you hope it means to audiences?
GABRIELA: BitterSweet brought us closer as a couple. It symbolizes turning pain into something positive. It’s proof that art can heal. I hope the film helps other neurodivergent people and their families find the support we received after Steven’s diagnosis.
STEVEN: As artists, parents, and partners, making this film was a healing process. It’s so satisfying to have created something that works on the emotional, artistic, and human levels we intended. I still discover new things in it. I want audiences—especially families going through systems like the one we did—to come on the ride with us. I hope BitterSweet offers them a little magic to help them process their own journeys.