Johannesburg - South African actress Ashleigh van der Hoven has opened up about what it is like to play a rape victim in a movie, saying it is the most challenging role she’s had to play in her acting career so far.
In her latest movie , Cut-Out Girls, which debuts in cinemas in South Africa next weekend, van der Hoven plays the role of Clea, a lesbian boxer who is raped at the same time beside her girlfriend, Annie.
“It is without a doubt the toughest role I’ve had to play to date,” says van der Hoven
“Rape is one of the most traumatic things a woman can go through and taking that on was both daunting and immense.”
The local movie, a crowd-funding Indie Feature film, written and directed by South African director Nicola Hanekom, is inspired by the #MeToo movement and is a film about date rape aimed at creating social change.
The movie, which is being released three days before 16 Days of Activism in South Africa, follows the story of how six young women’s lives are altered by the actions of two aspiring sportsmen.
A small series of seemingly insignificant moments weave together with devastating consequences.
Van der Hoven, who plays the role of Clea ,is raped at the same time beside her girlfriend.
Their relationship experiences extreme turmoil after the rape as they try to deal with the aftermath of what happened to them.
Clea sets about to seek revenge on the rapists as she tries to make sense of what happened and reclaim her power back.
“Cut–Out Girls was an extremely challenging but rewarding film to act in,” says van der Hoven.
“Clea is a tough cookie who really struggles to deal with how her power was snatched away from her and probably struggles the hardest to come to terms with her violation.”
“It was amazing to play her, especially because I got to explore so much on stage first.”
While shooting the rape scene in the movie was a daunting prospect for van der Hoven to deal with, she says shooting it with two co-stars that she was very close with made it a lot easier.
“Cody and Joel who play the two men are very close friends of mine so there was a lot of trust and Nicola ensured the space was very safe and we felt taken care of.”
“Shooting the scene however did affect me personally. It was a year and a half in this story and it definitely felt like a grey cloud was following me.”
“But this pales in comparison to what real survivors go through. It also caused me to become very clued up and outspoken on feminist issues, GBV (gender based violence) and rape culture, which I have remained incredibly passionate about.”
The 28-year-old says she spent a year and a half doing research on what happens psychologically to rape victims to prepare for her role as a rape victim in the movie.
“I did a lot of research. Reading books. Watching films etc.”
“Unfortunately, most women have experienced some kind of violation from a man at some point in their life.”
“So it was about finding that feeling in myself and using my imagination to grow that level of violation in what I thought could be similar to being date-raped.”
The actress who is based in Los Angeles and Cape Town, believes that it is imperative that South Africans get exposed to such movies.
“This film in particular and the way it deals with the men's stories could be pivotal in terms of illustrating to boys and men where the seemingly small choices they make can lead to huge consequences.”
“It is also a very healing story for women and may give survivors a sense of a voice out there. We can only hope for this.”
Just like millions of South Africans, van der Hoven says she has been devasted by the high rates of gender based violence and rape that has been occuring in the country.
“That week that the news came out about Uyinene and the rest of the female victims was hard hitting.”
“Every woman I spoke to had wept for these women. Sometimes we felt we couldn't breathe. Sometimes we struggled to move from the shock. That it had come to this. We were all connected in our pain. As I say this now my eyes well up with tears.”
“I refuse to accept that this is normal life. I cannot, for the women that have and will be violated, abused, assaulted, accept that this is our role in this world.”
“We have to work hard, however big and small we can to restore equality between genders. To support survivors and to protect the future of our daughters.”
Van der Hoven says it was a dream come true working with Hanekom, who is regarded as one of the country's most talented actors and directors.
“She is amazing. I learned so much from her as an actress. Her writing is great and the way her mind works creatively is so incredible to witness and be a part of.”
So what is the underlying message in the movie Cut-Out Girls and why should people go and see it?
Van der Hoven says: “Wow. That's difficult because there are so many messages. But essentially the two that stand out most is that "In every moment lies a choice" (with regards to the boy's actions) and then the fact that we can choose not to be defined by these traumas.”
“Of course there's all the social conscience stuff. But honestly, it's just a great, beautifully shot film with an incredible story! It’s also local and lekker!”