Cotton Dreams: Durban Mother And Daughter Team Up For Powerful Short Film Addressing Gbv And Cultural Clashes

Durban mom and daughter, Shireen and Lisa-Marie Pyanee, are 'taking it all in', following the success of Cotton Dreams, a short film, recently featured at the Joburg Film Festival.

Speaking to IOL, Lisa-Marie said her mom wrote the script which brings to light the inspiring narrative of a young fashion designer whose dreams clash with her mother's traditional values.

'We were inspired by real-life stories of women who have had to fight for their independence in a world that often limits their choices. Gender-based violence is a major issue in our communities, and I wanted to use storytelling as a way to shed light on this reality while also showing that hope and change are possible. Fashion, as an art form, felt like the perfect medium to explore themes of self-expression, freedom, and breaking free,' Lisa-Marie said.

From the start, Cotton Dreams needed to be authentic, she added.

'I focused on casting actors who could bring depth and truth to the characters. We worked with a strong team that shared our passion for the story,' she said.