Generic selectors
Exact matches only
Search in title
Search in content
Post Type Selectors

TIME AND TIDE

A pair of hopeless romantics navigate love and life in the big city. Mali, an addict, and Archie, who cleans yachts at the local dock to support their meagre existence, find their struggles intensified as Valentine’s Day approaches—a stark reminder of their hardships. They dream of escaping the city’s misfortunes by sailing off into the abyss, seeking solace and a fresh start away from their current reality.

What inspired the story behind your short film “Time and Tide”?

I was living in Cape Town during the drought that affected the film industry quite severely. As rock bottom drew near, I wondered, where do the hopeless find hope being broke in this big city? Then a homeless couple walked past me, hand in hand, hopelessly in love. I admired how they held onto their little slice of paradise in a city that did nothing but reject them. That day I started writing, and 18 months later, “Time and Tide” went into production.

How did you approach character development within the limited runtime of a short film?

The original 16-page script had our characters doing all kinds of expositional things, getting into arguments that were better left unsaid. When we meet them, their frustrations are already bubbling at the surface. They have so much to say and do that, if you leave them be, they develop organically. The beauty of the short film medium is that the audience’s interpretation allows them to actively participate in the characters’ journey.

What message or emotion do you hope the audience takes away from your film?

Humanity is more important than the well-being of an economic system.

Why are festivals like the FAME Shorts Film Festival so important?

FAME Shorts Film Festival provides a platform for indie filmmakers to screen their work to seasoned producers and distributors, opening conversations for future collaboration. We need these spaces to grow our network; without it, we stagnate, and our creativity flounders.

“Time and Tide,” written and directed by Lamar Bonhomme, is a poignant exploration of love and survival in a city that often feels unforgiving. Catch it at the FAME Shorts Film Festival.**

Directors

Length

9.01

Language

English

Country of production

South Africa

Genre

Drama

Year

2022

Screening