Renowned South African playwright, novelist and film-maker Ashwin Singh has once again affirmed his status as a leading voice in contemporary cinema.
He recently clinched the Best Short Film award at the prestigious Reels Film Festival, which was held in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, India, for his latest project, "Playtime".
"Playtime" is a contemporary anti-fairy tale set against the backdrop of a deteriorating South African village, offering viewers a glimpse into the life of a courageous young girl named Samantha.
The short film navigates themes of resilience and healing in an increasingly cynical and brutal world, focusing on Samantha's quest to secure both physical and emotional relief for her terminally ill brother, Rahul.
With a star-studded cast that includes Raquel Pillay, Lisakhanya Zwane, Bryan Hiles, Derosha Moodley, Cara Roberts, Sandile Mthembu, Callum Trevor Peters, Cardelle Peters and Singh himself, the film unfolds in an atmosphere fraught with tension as Samantha embarks on a perilous journey to find Harry, a mysterious healer who may be able to save her brother.
“I feel elated! 'Playtime' was a difficult film to make, with its dark atmosphere and challenging locations (including a forest), but it was all worth it," Singh shared.
"To be recognised for this effort with an international award at a festival featuring filmmakers from over sixty countries is deeply gratifying.”
The narrative reveals the stark realities of child trafficking and the often-overlooked role that familial and economic pressures play in driving such heinous crimes.
Singh is keenly aware of the urgency of highlighting these issues, stating, “Child trafficking is a monstrous crime. It also requires a more detailed educational drive from the authorities in collaboration with civil society and schools.
"Research indicates that trafficking, wherever it happens in the world, often involves the active co-operation of the victim’s family with the trafficking organisation. This is horrifying and requires further study.
"It is often tied to the economic circumstances of the family; many of the victims’ families live in abject poverty," he shared.
The gripping storyline depicts young Samantha facing formidable obstacles, including the threats posed by child traffickers and the looming fear of a witch that resides in the forest.
“She has to escape the shop boys, evade the witch and hope that Harry (the healer) will come to Rahul’s aid,” Singh explained.
“But they’re not just physical threats, they also represent the harsh realities that many children face today.”
Singh intended to spark a crucial conversation about the vulnerabilities children encounter, complicating the role of parents in contemporary society.
He poses challenging questions regarding the preparedness of adults to take on nurturing roles and the emotional intelligence required to guide young people through life’s complexities.
Singh wanted to make a film in a sensitive and substantial way to highlight these issues and to reveal the "courage of our youth as they are often forced to summon incredible inner strength to protect themselves from ruthless adults".
Singh said he creatively integrated suspense and visual symbolism into the film to engage audiences effectively.
"Of course, a film is also obligated to provide entertainment value. In a film about trafficking, there can be no light entertainment, but I used suspense and visual symbolism in the forest to capture the viewers’ attention," he said.
"I avoid being didactic. I want the viewer to work during the film. These are serious issues, and there are no easy answers. So, depending on the viewers’ specific perspectives and frames of reference, there may be differing conclusions as to the message of the film."
He said he intended to highlight that our biggest dangers are often closest to home and that we have to re-evaluate the role of parents in contemporary society.
"Are they truly playing the protective and nurturing role that they should be playing? Are these adults mature enough to have kids? Do they have any appreciation of the complexities of life as a modern teenager?"
Working with child actors posed its own set of challenges, but Singh found it to be deeply rewarding.
"My co-director, Quintin Lee White, and I were blessed to collaborate with committed and disciplined child actors. Our co-producer, clinical psychologist Shantal Singh, ensured that they always felt safe and appreciated.
"Of course, having a child-minder on set is a legal requirement and we took this very seriously.
"We were dealing with complex and disturbing issues, so we had to ensure that we communicated with sensitivity and compassion.
"We also allowed the child actors’ parents to be on set whenever they wanted so that everyone was always comfortable and lightened the mood whenever we could with some good, clean humour."
Looking ahead, Singh is excited about submitting "Playtime" to additional film festivals worldwide, alongside plans for local screenings in South Africa later this year.
"After the film festival run finishes, viewers can look forward to the film appearing on streaming platforms," he announced, eager to share this vital story with a broader audience.
Singh's debut film, "The Cane Cutters’ Transcendence", also won an award for Best Documentary Feature at this festival in 2021.