Held | After a Brutal & Humiliating Attack a Teenage Boy Struggles to Accept That He Is a Victim

Charles is attacked and stabbed, leaving him traumatised. Journeying home, he soon runs into a friend, but his shame of being a victim stops him from reaching out. Finally, Charles makes it back to the safety of his own home and the one person he knows will not judge. But Mum isn’t answering the door...
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Held by Toby Wharton
www.tobywharton.com/
"The idea for Held originated from my being attacked and stabbed when I was a teenager and that for many years I wasn’t able to speak openly and truthfully about my experience. I wasn’t able to be truthful with myself about what had happened to me and I couldn’t face the fact that I hadn’t been able to fight back and defend myself and was left feeling powerless, humiliated and ashamed. Held explores the trauma and shock experienced in the immediate aftermath of an attack. But at the heart of this film, what’s really driving its narrative is the great lengths a person can go to in order to hide their shame. I think this tendency towards self-blame after being hurt and abused can be experienced by all walks of life, so I hope this is where our film will resonate universally."
Read our full interview with Toby
directorsnotes.com/2022/12/07...
// Credits //
Cast: Rasaq Kukoyi, Ebenezer Gyau, Joshua Cameron, Idris Balogun, Akins Subair, Daniel Phelan, Shayla Skye, Jake Mann and Tony Deufemia
Writer / Director: Toby Wharton
Produced by Clement Fernandes and Silvia Felce
Executive Producer: Joy Gharoro-Akpojotor
Casting Director: Aisha Bywaters
Director of Photography: Laura Seward
Production Designer: Phoebe Platman
Editor: Lesley Posso
Composer: Peter Gregson
Sound Designer: Chad Orororo
Hair & Make Up Designer: Billie Mckenzie
Costume Designer: James Hadrill
Fight Coordinator: Jonathan Holby
1st Assistant Director: Alex Mill
3rd Assistant Director: Corinne Ceasar
Script Supervisor: Jennifer Brough
1st Assistant Camera: Andrea Clavijo
2nd Assistant Camera: Lea Aubigne
Stedicam Operator: Matteo Zennini
Gaffer: Vinnie Marranghino
Grip: Adam Green
Sound Recordist: Matteo Di Cugno
1st Assistant Sound: Daniel Leigh and Andrea Calaprice
Production Manager: Camilla Cabras
Storyboard Artist: Daniel O’Donnell-Smith
Stills Photographer: Lou Jasmine
Floor Runners - Bradley Smythe & Ciara Ryan
Colourist: Karol Cybulski @ CHEAT
Sound Mix: Filipe Pereira
Graphic Designer: Beth Morris
For BFI Network
Exec Producer: Aaliah Simpson
Exec Producer: Mathieu Ajan
Development Producer: Angeli Macfarlane
Project Coordinator: Ruth Thompson
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