Elisabet, recently out of a violent and abusive relationship, is at work and it is attacked by a mass shooter, after escaping from their grasp, she hides in a cabinet used for stationary, and is found again by the attacker, who is revealed to be Joe, her abusive ex-husband.

Using the claustrophobic space of the cabinet and surreal flashbacks, the story delves into the psychological effects of being in a domestic violent and abusive relationship, the control, the guilt, the gaslighting, the violence.

It began as an idea for a short film where Antony wanted to challenge himself in making a thriller, but one that he could film on a small budget, and inspired by news in the US of mass shootings the initial premise of someone trapped in a cabinet during a mass shooting was born. But Antony is a writer that doesn’t write films that are straightforward or very surface level, seeks to tell stories that are thought provoking and challenges the audience. Building on the characters and story, Antony realised that there is a deeper story and a metaphor about domestic violence to be told.

Breathe began as a concept short film called Desolation, in the feature adaptation will delve more into Elizabeth and Joe’s relationship, the control he had on her life, but bring some surreal and abstract aspects to the story. We will attempt to make it a "one-shot", this is to give the film a voyeuristic

Our mission is simple, to create a film that is not just a simple thriller, but a film that brings the audience into the psychological affects of domestic violence, but we didn't want to tell a story that is just about domestic violence, but with how intense the film is and with the flashbacks/dream sequences, we want the audience to "feel" it

Elisabet Talbot

Elisabet, played by Joanna Lusua, is a person who loves life, loves her family, something she has deep roots in, she has a dog who she loves, she is funny, quick witted and has a sharp tongue. However, she does have flaws, doesn't do well under pressure and sometimes indecisive. Although she was in an abusive relationship before, she is a fighter that has a zeal about her, and is willing to fight back. When she was with Joe, she lost her identity; he moulded her into an image, and she went inwards and protected herself. Elisabet left Joe and found release, and gradually became herself again, until Joe invades her workplace to get revenge.

Joe Talbot

He is a charming and charismatic person, someone with a silver tongue and knows how to say the right things, but would immediately snap if he doesn’t get his own way. He seeks to control and sees Elizabeth is his own possession, but his version of giving love is giving presents and nice things like designer clothing. During the film he will be wearing a mask, this is to represent that abusers can look like anyone.