Graduation Festival
AFDA Study Year: 3rd Year
Genre: Drama
Running Time: 12
Rating: PG,L
Viewing Restriction: 13
MADE UP OF TWO TIMELINES WHICH INTERWEAVE THROUGH THE PAST AND PRESENT, THE SPACE BETWEEN US FOLLOWS AINSLEY AS SHE IS GUIDED THROUGH HER TROUBLED PAST BY HER THERAPIST AND COMES TO THE REALISATION OF THE EFFECT THIS HAS HAD ON HER LIFE. WE BEGIN WITH AINSLEY'S THERAPIST LEADING HER TOWARDS AN EXPLORATION OF HER RELATIONSHIP WITH HER PARENTS. THIS LEADS US INTO A MEMORY OF HOW AINSLEY MET MAL, WHOM SHE HAD A BUDDING RELATIONSHIP WITH. MAL IS THE ONLY PERSON WHOM AINSLEY FEELS CONNECTED TO - THE ONLY PERSON WHO SEEMS TO UNDERSTAND HER. HOWEVER, AINSLEY'S STRICT, RELIGIOUS PARENTS HAVE OTHER IDEAS. ONE DAY, WHEN AINSLEY'S MOTHER CATCHES THE YOUNG GIRLS LYING BESIDE ONE ANOTHER, HOLDING HANDS, IT OCCASIONS A FIGHT - ONE IN WHICH MAL IS EXPELLED NOT ONLY FROM AINSLEY'S HOME BUT ALSO HER LIFE. AFTER THIS AINSLEY IS LEFT ALONE, GROWING EVER MORE DISTANT FROM HER PARENTS AND DEEPLY WOUNDED. AINSLEY EXPLORES THIS WITH HER THERAPIST AND DETAILS HOW SHE WAS LEFT WITH A SENSE OF SHAME WHICH HAS AFFECTED HER FORMATION OF BONDS WITH OTHER PEOPLE. BACK IN THE PRESENT, AINSLEY'S THERAPIST GUIDES HER TOWARDS SPEAKING ABOUT THIS INCIDENT AND HOW IT MADE HER FEEL, LEADING US BACK INTO THE PAST WHERE, THROUGH THE ALLUSIVE USE OF IMAGERY IN A CHURCH, AINSLEY LAYS BARE HER TRUE FEELINGS SURROUNDING HER LIFE AND FINALLY ARRIVES AT A NEW PERSPECTIVE OF HERSELF. FINALLY, WE SEE AINSLEY MEETING UP IN THE PRESENT TIME WITH MEL, OPENING HERSELF UP TO HER TRUE IDENTITY AND LOVE FOR HERSELF.
Darney Markgraff - Kelsey Mackriel
Courtney Oss - Vikesh Patel
Writer - Kiran Smith
Director - Robynne van der Merwe & Lipho Bekani
Executive Producer - Zizi Damane
Cinematographer - Siya Rakoasti
Production Designer - Jayden Solomon
Costume, Make-up and Styling - Thandeka Khumalo
Editor - Redempta Rugeiyamu
Composer - Mignon Humphries
Colourist/Grader - Siya Rakoatsi