Shirley Adams

Oliver Hermanus

One year ago, Donovan was shot in the neck when he came home from school. Now, his mother Shirley Adams takes care of him. And that is no easy job, since Donovan is paralysed from the waist up. Her husband walked out on her and she had to sell all her possessions to pay the hospital bills for Donovan. And to make matters worse, the doctors consider that Shirley is not able to adequately care for her son. They’re not entirely wrong in their appreciation: Shirley is completely exhausted by looking after for Donovan all day. The hospital sends young Tamsin to help Shirley. Although she can definitely use some help, Shirley also feels threatened by the newcomer. Intimate and touching movie about the link between poverty and violence in South Africa.

Credits

Director
Oliver Hermanus
Year
2009
Country of production
South Africa
Type
Fiction
Duration
90 minutes
Spoken language
Afrikaans, English
Subtitles
EN
Production company
Visit Films
World Sales
DV8 Films