Where do the borders of our sexual identities begin and end? What constitutes “reportable” domestic violence?
These are some of the questions raised by my new LGBT thriller, The Betrayal, filming in Dublin this weekend. It’s a female-driven, dark drama, aiming to provide a new perspective on issues such as sexual identity, domestic and digital abuse.
Having attended a conference on digital abuse by Women’s Aid Ireland last year, I realised how small the awareness and understanding of digital abuse is. It’s an issue I feel very strongly about, especially when I hear infuriating public reactions where the victims are blamed and shamed. For this and many other reasons, I wrote The Betrayal, hoping to provide insight into how and why violence in relationships starts and the impact it has on both the victims and the perps.
I’m incredibly lucky and grateful for my collaborators on this project: Producers Eilís Abbott and Michael O’Dwyer (Driftwood Doll Films), my co-director Natasha Waugh, cinematographer Gosia Zur (who learned her craft on productions such as Being AP, Penny Dreadful and Vikings), and my fantastic cast: Miriam Devitt and Mark McAuley, to name but a few.
I’m also delighted to have composer Conor Walsh join our team with his beautiful debut EP piece The Front, named one of the best Irish songs of 2015by Nialler9. The Front will be featured in one of the key scenes in The Betrayal..
The Betrayal incorporates ballet into its world and some of the key scenes take place at a dance-themed exhibition in an art gallery. For these scenes we received truly breathtaking photographs (one of which is featured above). Our photography collaborators include Donal Moloney (known for his Intrudersexhibition, his urbex photography and the cover of the latest Sinéad O’Connor album), Ewa Krasucka (the official photographer of the Polish National Ballet whose works have been published in The New York Times, The Washington Post, and The Guardian) and Andrea Paolini Merlo (a photographer, dancer and choreographer with the Hungarian National Ballet Company) and more.
Some of these evocative prints are available for purchase through the film’s crowdfunding campaign. Check them out here and help us spread the word!
As we’re starting filming this Friday, with our production team of over 30 people, follow our Facebook and Twitter for updates from the set.
Thank you for reading and your support,
Kamila Dydyna