Shot in one seamless take on Super 16mm film, Crush explores consent between two people in a bar bathroom.

Director’s Vision for ‘Crush’

Crush emerged from a personal experience around the complexities surrounding sexual consent. Having experienced a challenging situation with a close friend, I felt compelled to explore the often-murky territory where attraction and vulnerability intersect, and where the crucial boundary of enthusiastic consent can become dangerously obscured.

My intention with Crush was to create an unblinking and immediate experience for the audience. By filming in a single, unbroken take on the raw and intimate texture of 16mm, I wanted to strip away any artifice and immerse viewers directly in the unfolding tension of the moment. The absence of a musical score further emphasizes this commitment to raw honesty, forcing us to confront the subtle shifts in power and awareness through the characters’ interactions alone.

This film is not about providing easy answers. Instead, it is an invitation to witness a delicate situation unfold in real-time, prompting each viewer to confront their own assumptions and beliefs about consent, desire, and the responsibility we have to one another. My hope is that Crush sparks vital conversations and encourages a deeper understanding of this essential aspect of human interaction.