The new short film Hush, by Cape Town-based writer and director Talya Galasko, tackles the urgent issue of gender-based violence in South Africa. With over 2,700 womxn and 1,000 children murdered by men last year, and 100 rapes reported daily, President Ramaphosa has likened the current situation to a war against womxn.

Debuting on Nataal, Hush has been an independent collaboration between a group of young womxn - many of whom are survivors of sexual assault themselves – and men who hope this moving and thought provoking film will be a cathartic tool for victims. The narrative follows the experiences of a womxn who is confronted with the person who had sexually assaulted her while at a party one night. The social dynamics between the two of them, and their circle of friends, soon begins to unravel.

“Hush is an outlet for the absolutely devastating psychological and self-policing effect violence has had, and continues to have, on womxn in South Africa. It is an attempt to have our voices heard in a country of perpetual silencing – where the rate of rape and femicide is among the highest in the world,” Galasko states.

“Our main ambition in making this film was to get the men who question their role in this culture of violence to come to the very clear answer South African womxn have to face every single day.”

Writing and direction Talya Galasko
Cinematography Jason Prins
Production Sam Laskey, Talya Galasko
First assistant direction Andile Sinqoto
Gaffer Antoine Kabal
Sound recording Luis Trajillo Garrido
Focus puller Nicholas Faure
Fashion direction Donna Lee De Kock
Fashion assistance Chloé Turner
Art department Kira Gimpel
Hair and make-up Marijke Scholten
Photography Gemma Mary Shepherd
Cast Nalu, Tristan de Beer, Buni Bogopa, Grace Matetoa, Maya Borraine, Dylan Bell, Liam Bezance

Published on 10/11/2019