The filming for OYO’s new production ‘a crack in the wall’ has been completed.
Written by four students from the University of Namibia (UNAM) and one from South Africa, the film charts the story of a female UNAM student who is raped, but who decides to take her rapist to court, and in so doing challenges existing norms in Namibia.
Rape cases are typically underrepresented in Namibia. The reasons for this are numerous. Some rape victims are simply unaware of their rights and the legal procedures that protect them. Others are daunted by the perceived complexity of legal responses. Others still, worry about the potential repercussions they might face from their abusers, friends, family and the community at large.
‘A crack in the wall’ has sought to address these issues by incorporating extensive expert advice from Lyneta Conradie and Dianne Hubbard from the Legal Assistance Centre and Ms Kawawi from the Woman and Child Protection Unit. In addition, Sandy Rudd from the Windhoek Theatre School provided useful insights into how these messages could be presented in drama.
Shot over a two-week period at the end of November, the film has been an educative experience for several young Namibian actors. These include:
• Loide Imasa from the Oshifo Youth Group
• Grace Swatbooi from the Otjimbingwe Youth Group
• Ebenezer !Naruseb from the Otjimbingwe Youth Group
• Matthew ‘Badboy’ Murumbua from the Okangwati Youth Group
• Barnabas Ochurub who has worked with OYO on previous productions including ‘bread and jam’ and ‘5 minutes of pleasure
• Bergo Van Wyk a young actor from Windhoek
‘A Crack in the Wall’ is scheduled for release in May 2008.
