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Logline

Inspired by writer/director Bill Chen’s own upbringing in Cape Town, South Africa, this deeply moving coming-of-age story follows a young boy precariously navigating the intricacies and pressures of an all-boys prep school, a conservative household, and his own sexuality. His experiences and decisions ultimately send him hurtling towards a life-changing event that will have inevitable and devastating consequences on both him and his closest confidante: his own twin brother.

Synopsis

Twins Matthew and Bradley are the center of this story. Their innocent relationship juxtaposes sharply against their surrounding circumstances that are constantly challenging them to prove themselves as “men.” Their private school is a hyper-masculine environment: one where pain from getting hurt during playground games is bottled up, where aggression is a coveted trait, where homophobic jokes are told with ease, and where pornographic content is shared openly and gratuitously among peers. When Matthew gets hurt playing Red Rover, Bradley is right by his side. An image of the twins sharing fantastical stories together closes out the first act: a display of their untainted innocence before everything goes wrong.

Act Two: The twins visit their friend Darren’s house for the afternoon. The visit begins with Matthew spying on Darren’s sister. Bradley catches him in the act, and Matthew experiences his first instance of palpable shame in front of Bradley. Darren then coerces Matthew into playing a game he doesn’t fully understand. Wanting to prove himself, Matthew accepts the challenge. Darren leads him alone into the forest. The second act culminates in a sensitive portrayal of nuanced sexual abuse: building tension through suggestive imagery. It’s a familiar story: an impressionable person being taken advantage of by a domineering presence and coerced into a “consensual” situation.

The film’s final act starts with a school chapel sermon. Consumed by paranoia, Matthew’s embarrassment pushes him to a breaking point. Triggered by possible gossip and his own fear of vulnerability, Matthew enters another game of Red Rover in a fury of anger, violently unleashing his emotions onto Bradley, the only person he trusts. The final image brings the story together: a tragic loss of innocence as a precious bond is broken. A relationship that should otherwise be held dear might never be the same again.
 

Meet the Filmmakers

Bill Chen – Writer/Director
Bill Chen is a South African writer, director and editor. He graduated from New York University’s (NYU) Tisch School of the Arts with a BA in Film and TV Production and has been featured in various international film festivals including the Nantucket Film Festival and the Clermont Ferrand Short Market. He has worked in music videos for artists featured in Rolling Stone magazine and shot content for brands such as Cape Town City Football Club, First National Bank (FNB) and La Liga Spain. He is currently in pre-production on his next narrative short film, Boys Will Be Boys, and is developing his first narrative feature film.

Margaret Montavon – Producer
Margaret Montavon is a New York-based actor, producer, writer, educator, and co-founder of production company, Pipe Dream, who believes in harnessing the transformative power of the arts to convey meaningful stories and tap into the shared universality of the flawed human experience. Margaret holds a BA in Theatre Performance from Marymount Manhattan College, a Master’s in Education from Northeastern University, and is a graduate of the Upright Citizen’s Brigade, where she developed her love for comedy and telling stories with heart and humor. While also actively creating, producing and developing several forthcoming series (including Disruptor, executive produced by Priyanka Chopra Jonas), Margaret recently produced the short film When We Arrive As Flowers and wrote and produced her first two children’s books. Margaret is a proud member of SAG-AFTRA, AEA, and The Gotham.

Elizabeth Raia – Producer
Elizabeth Raia is a New York-based producer, actor, writer, certified crisis counselor, and co-founder of production company, Pipe Dream. She is passionate about telling stories focusing on overlooked and underestimated individuals and communities. Elizabeth earned degrees in Communication Arts and Business from Marymount Manhattan College and has worked in various areas of production, garnering ample time at The Colbert Report, ABC, VIACOM, and the PGA. She is a member of WIF, The Gotham, and the HRTS. Elizabeth recently produced the short films, Wait, Waterfall, and When We Arrive As Flowers. She has recently created and co-created several scripted projects, including Disruptor, executive produced by Priyanka Chopra Jonas, and the limited series Ruby, a MMIWG-centric dramedy currently in development with a predominantly Native creative team and the Crow Tribe of Montana.

Allan X. Chen – Composer
Allan X. Chen is a passionate, award-winning composer. He is the writer and director’s own twin brother and will lend authenticity to the storytelling behind the music. Born and raised in South Africa, he is the twin brother of the director. He is a first prize winner of the 2022 Percussive Arts Society International Composition Contest, the Royal Scottish National Orchestra (RSNO) Composer’s Hub, the Bowdoin International Music Festival Composition Competition, and recipient of the Elgar Memorial Prize from the Royal College of Music (RCM). His music has been performed by the RSNO, the JACK Quartet, Alea III Ensemble, Quartetto Indaco, and has been performed across the globe at the São Paulo Contemporary Composers Festival, Cheltenham Int. Music Festival, and Bowdoin Int. Music Festival. His film scores have been featured in the Nantucket Int. Film Festival, São Paulo Int. Film Festival, and Los Angeles Int. Shorts Festival.

Dr. Èmil Haarhoff – Intimacy Coordinator
Dr. Èmil Haarhoff is a freelance actor, director, choreographer and intimacy coordinator (IC). He completed his Ph.D. in Drama through the University of Pretoria, his Master’s Degree in Musical Theatre through the Tshwane University of Technology and his Certification in Movement Analysis (CMA) through the Laban/Bartenieff Institute of Movement Studies in New York. He is trained and certified as an IC through Intimacy Coordinators and Directors (IDC) in the USA, and is the only SAG-AFTRA registered IC in Africa. Èmil trained (and co-designed training modules for) IC’s throughout Europe, India, Brazil, The Middle East and Africa for Safe Sets and Netflix. IC credits include work for Netflix, Showmax, HBO and other major streaming platforms and channels. He also has a vibrant career as a stage performer and film actor, including international touring productions and creative work featured on some of the biggest festival and theatre stages around South Africa.

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Contact

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