Director’s statement

In 2013, the 17-year old Anene Booysen was raped and disembowelled by a group of men in the small town of Bredasdorp, she later died in hospital. Anene’s death, unfortunately, is one of many. South Africa battles with an above average number of rape and femicide. Poverty, substance abuse, gender stereotypes and the country’s violent history of apartheid are but a few reasons for this complex issue. As a woman and a permanent resident of South Africa, the grim statistics and daily news about rape and femicide affected me deeply. 

One year after Anene’s murder, I went to Bredasdorp to research a follow up story. A chance encounter with the then Municipal Manager led me to meet hist wife, activist Lana O’Neill. From the get go I was impressed by Lana’s passion and no nonsense approach to her work. I knew that I have to document her work running a safe house. At the same time, I was acutely aware of my role as an outsider, a white woman, born in Germany.

In trying to avoid potentially exploitative and stereotypical views, the film follows Lana as closely as possible. We only enter spaces with her and we only hear Lana reflecting on the situation on the ground. We showed the finished film to Lana and the women at the safe house and, thankfully, they feel that it represents the realities on the ground. I am grateful to them and the family of the victims for the trust in me and the film.

Bredasdorp stands pars pro toto for the whole of South Africa. There are many places and small towns (Afrikaans: Dorpies) that face the same battles. While the film might not offer a solution to the complex issue of femicide and GBV, my hope is that it shines a light on structural issues that prevent the situation from improving and that it honours fearless activists such as Lana O’Neill. 

Julia Jaki, Cape Town, 2022