#WeAreDyingHere (SAFTAs Best Short Film 2022) A Personal Review by Mpilonhle Makhaye

SAFTAs winner of Best Short Film 2022 #WeAreDyingHere tells the story of three soldiers who are forced into a war they didn’t choose. It speaks about gender-based violence in this time. The story is told through a series of poems as we are shown South Africa in a state of war. The characters in the film are nameless as they represent every woman. Shane Vermooten takes on the director chair, the film is based on the play by Siphokazi Jones, Hope Netshivhambe and Babalwa Makwetu.

Okay! Let’s jump into it, at first glance you feel as if it’s a Sci-fiction movie (futuristic), haven’t seen the live performance made me wish I had because I felt as if it would have been an amazing experience than watching it as a film. It talks about important topics, but the manner of approach is theatre and that takes one off.

It’s no lie that #WeAreDyingHere is powerful as a theatre piece, but it fails as a film I say so because one can easily see that they didn’t develop the script for film. Take for the example The Colour Purple and Fences both are theatre pieces which were adapted into films, the approach and method must change for viewers to experience the piece as a film.

It runs for 23 minutes, I watched it two times, one was without sound honestly it would have been more amazing if it was a silent film that describes the poems visually rather than talking heads.

The cinematography (DOP: Devin Tosew) is gripping for the eye and Art Direction did a thrilling job into this production, the department itself deserves an award. The performance, music and poetry are heart-warming and thought provoking.

The short film is available on Showmax.

4/10