Fighting abuse with a movie
On 8 August, South African director Meg Rickards will walk 26km from Cape Town to Muizenberg in order to create awareness around women and child abuse, as well as to attract funding for her film Whiplash, Screen Africa reports.
The film – based on the novel of the same name –will highlight the subject of women and child abuse as it tells the story of a prostitute who was abused as a child and then later as a young woman.
"As a woman, mother and filmmaker I feel compelled to act against one of the most devastating plagues in our society using the tools at my disposal – the story and the camera. By bringing Whiplash to the screen, we hope to make a contribution to changing hearts and minds through the power of narrative, and to challenge the culture of impunity around rape," says Rickards.
From 7am on the eve of Women’s Day, 9 August, Rickards will begin her trek to Muizenberg in a petticoat and painted-on bruises, and will be joined as far as the Woodstock Police Station by former Deputy Health Minister Nozizwe Madlala-Routledge as well as members of NGOs and project supporters.
According to Screen Africa, the film has received support from the National Film and Video Foundation as well as the Department of Trade and Industry. However, it needs a further R1-million before production can actually start.
Producer Jacky Lourens had this to say regarding the fund raising: “The aim of our appeal is to solicit donations from a large number of people. Donations start at R100 and everyone who backs the project will get something in return. The rewards are designed to draw people into the filmmaking process – to visit the set, watch the rough cut and even be in the movie. ”
