Q: Can you discuss any unique challenges you faced during production?
Kim: This project was entirely self-funded, so budget constraints required us to carefully consider how we could tell this story with the resources we had and still do it justice. Fortunately, we worked with long-time collaborators who believed in the project as much as we did.

Helen: The pandemic hit just as we were finishing the film, which forced us to cancel our premiere. Although it was disappointing, we shifted our focus to ensuring we could finish the film and release it in a way that reached as many people as possible, resulting in a successful online premiere.

Q: How did you approach character development within the limited runtime of a short film?
Helen: We worked with Boni and Wes through every step of developing this film, from writing to scene development. It was crucial that they retained the autonomy of their story and that we portrayed it in a way that resonated with and was right for them.

Kim: Their voices and words were integral to the film. We aimed to ensure their story was authentic, allowing them to convey their experiences naturally.

Q: What message or emotion do you hope the audience takes away from your film?
Helen: Love is love.

Q: How do you see your short film fitting into your broader body of work or future projects?
Kim: We love telling stories that portray human truths and capture emotions through visuals, whether through a stylized aesthetic or a more ‘slice of life’ approach. This is where we excel, and it informs our future projects.

Q: If you could cast any actor, living or dead, in your next project, who would it be and why?
Kim: Edward Norton, because he’s brilliant.
Helen: Ayo Edebiri, because I love how she handles dialogue and her natural performance style.

Q: What’s the most unexpected or funny thing that happened on set?
Helen: That we managed to get through the shoot!
Kim: We had a hard drive with footage fail on us. Unexpected, but not funny.

Q: If your short film had a theme song, what would it be?
Helen: ‘Mystery Of Love’ by Sufjan Stevens.

Q: What’s the strangest piece of advice you’ve ever received about filmmaking?
Kim: “The experience of filmmaking won’t be subtitled in the final edit.”

Q: If you could have a superpower to help you with filmmaking, what would it be and how would you use it?
Helen: A trust fund, to fund our films.

Q: Why are festivals like the FAME Shorts Film Festival so important?
Kim: They develop filmmaking and give narrative makers the best opportunities possible. We need more investment in South African filmmaking. Our country is rich in talent and stories, and we have some of the best crews in the world. Festivals like FAME push the agenda and put the work out there, which is incredibly important for nurturing and growing the industry.

Directors’ Statement

Kim Hinrichs:
We wanted to tell this story because we were moved by the bravery and generosity Boni and Wes showed in documenting their journey and sharing it online. We wanted to pay tribute to that and are extremely grateful for their trust.

Helen J. Raine:
The film was a complete collaboration. We worked with Boni and Wes over a year to ensure their involvement in every aspect—from writing to wardrobe. Each vignette represents a chapter of their story, drawing on their personal art, videos, photography, and more. We even used some of their personal footage in the final cut.

Statements from Boni Mnisi and Wes Leal

Wes Leal:
I’ve always believed in being outspoken about my identity and experience. When Helen and Kim approached us with the idea of a short film, I realized it was an invaluable opportunity. Rewriting our story and reliving our high school experiences was both hard and fun. I’m grateful for the collaborative approach that made it easy to be ourselves in front of the camera.

Boni Mnisi:
Bringing our love story to life allowed us to reconcile with our younger selves and make peace with past adversities. Our story is relatable, especially for younger queer people in toxic environments. I want them to see that it does get easier to be yourself. I’m proud to be part of something so special and important.