“A Small Hole For A Small Bird” by Thor Rixon
In the gentle embrace of the South African sun, amidst the golden fields and distant mountains framing a tranquil farm, a tender narrative unfolds—a tale woven with the innocence of youth and the weight of family burdens.
Here, two young brothers, seek refuge in the simplicity of farm life and the bond they share. The elder brother, visibly scarred by violence at home, leads the way, his pain palpable with every step. Together, they venture further from the shadows of their family house, into the vast expanse of the open fields.
But as the afternoon unfolds, a moment of weakness and misjudgment from the older brother leads to unintended consequences—a mistake that harms his younger sibling, fracturing the fragile trust between them. In the aftermath, hurt, betrayal, and shame hang heavy in the air, threatening to tear them apart.
Yet, it is in this moment of darkness that the true essence of their bond shines through. Through a journey of forgiveness and reconciliation, they find themselves united in a solemn ritual—a poignant act of burying a small bird, a symbol of their shared vulnerability and resilience.
Amidst the symphony of nature's whispers—the rustling leaves, the chirping birds—they rediscover solace and strength in each other's silent understanding.
As the day gives way to dusk, they stand together outside the looming shadow of their family home, fortified by their newfound resolve. No matter the trials that await them, they are ready to face them as one, hand in hand, brothers bound by love and the unbreakable bonds of brotherhood. This is a story of resilience, forgiveness, and the enduring power of familial love.
FROM THE DIRECTOR
“The entire process of creating this film has been one of the most rewarding creative experiences of my entire career; from the inception of the idea late one night, reflecting on the many golden afternoons my brother and I used to share on the farm where we grew up in South Africa, to the shoot where some of my closest friends came to help over a beautiful summer weekend, all the way to the final grade at my home in Berlin.
The idea for there to be no dialogue in the film came pretty early on and happened naturally, as my brother and I share a very close relationship, even though not much is usually said between us.
Once I had a working script, I approached the producer of the project, Alex Middlebrook, who helped with finding two young boys to star in the film. Alex's mother, Tracy, is a primary school teacher in Cape Town, so we asked her if she could recommend any talented students. She came back to us immediately with Levi and Adam.
Levi and Adam blew us all away with their talent as young actors. They took every direction so well and responded to each suggestion as if they had been doing this for years.
The post-production phase was the longest part of the process as I sat with the edit for quite some time to try and get the right flow and pace for the film. Once I had the cut locked, I started writing the music and assembling the sound design, which was so much fun. I composed a theme that would serve as the backbone of the film, coming in and out in various moments in different forms to elevate and deepen each scene. Once I had laid down the foundation for the composition, I asked a dear friend and incredible wind instrumentalist, Paolo Guolo, to record some saxophone and flute onto the piece to give the composition an impression of 'wind' and 'breeze' that flows and marries so well with the vast open fields of rural South Africa.
This project was extremely cathartic and has filled my heart and ignited my ambition to write and create more films — stories that mean something to me, ones that hopefully inspire and allow any audience to feel connected to themselves and humanity.
I hope you enjoy the film.”
-Thor Rixon
CREDITS:
Starring// Levi Young & Adam Brand
Director// Thor Rixon/ @thorrixon
Producer// Alex Middlebrook
Production Assistance// Faith Shields, Georgia Satchell, Helena Goddard, Troy Levin, Paolo Guolo, Chivonne Young,
Candice Brand, Wayne Young, Ferdi Brand, James Tuft, Andy Petersen
Location// Michele Rixon Tony Jones
Art Dept Rental// Matthew Kay
Casting// Tracy Middlebrook
Equipment Rental// Zootee Studios & Rob Smith
Special Thanks
Helena Goddard, Faith Shields, Georgia Satchwell, Troy Levin, Paolo Guolo, Chivonne Young, Candice Brand, Wayne Young, Ferdi Brand, Mathew Kay, Tracy Middlebrook, Rob Smith, Zootee Studios, Michele Rixon, Tony Jones, James Tuft, Andy Petersen
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