There is a toxic/codependent relationship between the abuser and the abused, as highlighted in Tomás Ferreira’s short film, In a House, At Night.
It’s Halloween, and Alice (Moa Myerson) and her daughter, Lynn (Honor Davis-Pye), are turning in for the night at the women’s shelter where they are temporarily living. Having trouble sleeping at the shelter, Lynn insists they return home to Alice’s ex, Daniel. Protecting Lynn, Alice says no, but Lynn walks out anyway.
In a House, At Night is a powerful story about a mother forced to leave her home for the sake of safety and sanity and the daughter she is protecting from her abusive ex. The short film takes us down two paths, looking at the situation through both Alice’s and Lynn’s points of view.
For young Lynn, she doesn’t understand exactly the reason they left, but she does remember listening to fights on the other side of the wall and the aftermath of her mother’s condition. For Alice, she is the self-sacrificial mother who’d do anything for her daughter and finds herself tempted to return to Daniel in spite of the literal scars on her arms.
“Having trouble sleeping at the shelter, Lynn insists that they return home to Alice’s ex, Daniel.”
Filmmaker Tomás Ferreira brings an incredibly powerful and surreal tone to In a House, At Night. The story and POV of Lynn and Alice flow together, and the music…and lack of music…strike the right notes to accentuate the moment. Once you lock into the story, the visual takes on a whole new life and perspective on women and children displaced as a result of abuse.
Myerson and David-Pye both deliver incredible performances, portrayed in constant close-ups showcasing their emotional expressions. Their subtle acting draws you in and conveys the depth of the characters’ emotions, making their performances truly captivating.
Stories such as In a House, At Night often shed light on the issue of domestic abuse through words and testimonials. In this film, writer/director Ferreira conveys these stories through emotions and body language, providing unique and powerful insights into this invisible dilemma.
"…shed light on the issue of domestic abuse..."
