APART is an animated short directed by Pola Maneli. Amid the harsh realities of South African apartheid, two boys, Themba and Joel, form a dangerous friendship. As hate and fear threaten to pull them apart, their bond faces its greatest challenge in the form of a life-saving gesture.
Tim Jones, who filled in our form, says the story is inspired by a childhood friendship with Lubabalo "Lubhi" Mtati, one of the film's co-writers. Jones says their goal was "to honour our shared bond while reflecting the profound strength of genuine human connection." Writing as a South African expat living in the UK, Jones says it is incredible to know the story will be shown in London.
Key Takeaways
- Jones says the moments that feel most true are the boys kicking around a football and hanging out, small moments drawn from a life shared with Mtati growing up in South Africa in the 90s.
- The team chose animation, which Jones says let them move beyond what can be documented literally and into how an experience feels.
- Early in the scriptwriting process, they made a difficult decision about the ending. Jones says they wanted it to reflect the world in which the boys lived.
Below, Jones answers our questions in writing.
Interview
What drew you to make this film, and why this story, why now?
The story of APART is inspired by my childhood friendship with Lubabalo "Lubhi" Mtati (one of the co-writers of this film). Lubhi and I share a deep passion for narrative storytelling, which made this particular tale continuously resurface over time. Our goal was to honour our shared bond while reflecting the profound strength of genuine human connection. Animation proved to be the ideal medium, allowing us to convey authentic truth with delicate artistry and creative vision so viewers of every generation can fully immerse themselves.
What surprised you most about the filmmaking process creatively or logistically, including any moment on set or in post that changed how you saw the story?
Collaborating alongside an extraordinary team expanded this project far past anything we could have ever imagined. From co-writing with Spike Lee and Jeff Leisawitz, to Pola Maneli bringing a distinctive visual direction, to Laduma Ngxokolo’s wardrobe design and Black Coffee’s music supervision—every contributor added their fingerprint—including the brilliant artistic crews at The Youth and Colossal. Our gifted voice cast (Gerhardt Conradie, Louis Booysen, Kopano Mashike, Sobantu Nqayi, Daniah De Villiers, and Evan Hengst) delivered captivating performances that truly breathed life into these characters. Endless dedicated people poured their hearts into crafting this story, serving as a powerful reminder of how vital love remains to keep us connected.
What moment in the film feels most like you, or like something only you could have made?
The film was inspired by my friendship with co-writer Lubabalo “Lubhi” Mtati. We grew up together in South Africa in the 90s. So, the moments in the film that feel most true to me are when the boys are kicking around a football and just hanging out. To see small moments like that from our life together reflected on-screen in APART is a real joy for us both.
“To see small moments like that from our life together reflected on-screen in APART is a real joy for us both.”
What was the hardest creative decision you made while making the film?
We had to make a difficult decision early on in the scriptwriting process that would ultimately make the ending more impactful. When you work with someone like Spike Lee, it quickly becomes apparent just how masterful he is when it comes to authentic and raw storytelling. Without giving too much away, we wanted the end of the story to reflect the world in which the boys lived.
How does your film fit within, or push the boundaries of, its genre or form?
With APART, we saw animation as a way to bring a moment in history to life while exploring the complicated human relationships within it. Animation allowed us to move beyond what can be documented literally and into how an experience feels. That was especially meaningful in telling the story through the eyes of children, where larger social divisions are felt before they’re fully understood. Animation remains one of our most expressive human art forms, and we’re honoured to use the medium to bring this story to life.
“Animation allowed us to move beyond what can be documented literally and into how an experience feels.”
What do you hope audiences take away from this film?
Our goal with this story was always to leave people thinking about not only the power of love, but also the true cost of hatred. My hope is that APART continues to find new audiences and connect with them emotionally. First and foremost, I want people to walk away feeling they’ve had a memorable experience. Beyond that, I hope they recognize something of themselves in each of the characters and reflect on the distinctions we draw between ourselves and other people, often without even realizing it. There’s something in a child’s way of seeing the world with curiosity and openness that I hope stays with people long after the film ends.
What does it mean to have your film selected for HollyShorts London?
As a South African expat living in the UK, it’s incredible to know that our story will be shown here in London. This is a great opportunity for our community to show up and support a local story, and to bring that South African “gees” to the screening. We can’t wait to see you all at the HollyShorts UK Film Festival in London!
Asked how the film has shaped the stories Jones wants to tell next, the answer was brief: "It only reinforced a desire to keep telling stories that move people and remind everyone that without love, we will always be apart."
Main Cast & Crew
- Director: Pola Maneli
- Co-writers: Spike Lee, Jeff Leisawitz, Lubabalo "Lubhi" Mtati
- Wardrobe Design: Laduma Ngxokolo
- Music Supervision: Black Coffee
- Voice Cast: Louis Booysen (Themba), Gerhardt Conradie (Joel), Kopano Mashike, Sobantu Nqayi, Daniah De Villiers, Evan Hengst
- Website | Instagram | Full credits
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