Do Elephants Pray - Raindance Film Festival

SWANSEA LOVE STORY
FRIDAY 1 OCTOBER AT 8:15PM
There has been a 180% rise in heroin use registered in Swansea
over the past four years. Recorded over six months the film sheds
some light on this shocking statistic, telling the stories of various
young Swansea natives who have fallen foul to what’s been
described as ‘one of South Wales’s most ever-present epidemics’.
It is an uncompromising look at the city’s drug problem with
peaceful images of the seaside and hymns sung by a local male
voice choir contrasted starkly with explicit footage of drug use.
A broad perspective is given. The film touches on the roots of
the drug problem with the mass unemployment that inevitably
followed the closing of the mines and also branches out into the
issue of racial tension within the city. But the main focus is on
Cornelius and Amy, a young homeless couple who have both
been addicted to heroin since they were children.
This is a sensitive and touching film but overall a bleak picture
is painted of Swansea and there are no easy answers to be
offered. Possibly the most poignant thing about the film is the
feeling that these people had very little choice about the lives
they’ve ended up leading. As Cornelius says, ‘People like us grow
up with parents who are selling drugs and doing drugs, you learn
where you live’. SE
PRODUCT
Australia 1 min Format 16mm Director/
Producer/Screenplay/DoP Johan
Mard Cast Ben Andrews, Pia Olmeadhra
Print Source Johan Mard
Two outer-city youths talk about love and
skin care.
Country UK Running Time 60 mins Format DV Directors/Producers/DoP Andy
Capper, Leo Leigh Print Source VBS
18TH RAINDANCE FILM FESTIVAL
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