The Hug shines a light on male vulnerability in a comedic yet sincere way. It follows two friends who experience a strange phenomenon when their goodbye method evolves from a handshake into a hug.
The film was conceived during a night out with a group of mates. After finishing up at the pub, my friends and I initiated an overlong embrace. At first, the duration of our hug felt comical, but beneath that was a sincerity. It stayed with me and had me reflecting on the importance of male vulnerability and the gratitude I have for my friends. I felt compelled to tell a story that captured the origin of this genuine connection.
I thought about what that would look and feel like in a heightened cinematic setting. The longer I sat with the idea the more I knew I had to make it. It started to marinate and grow into something meaningful.
The Hug was produced independently with the contribution of an online crowdfunding campaign. The team is grateful for those that backed and supported the project and the generosity of friends, family and strangers.
After a successful festival circuit, both local and international, (Austin Film Festival, FilmQuest, St Kilda, Revelation, CinéfestOZ, WA Made) we are proud to premiere the film online via Film Shortage.
The intention was always to entertain the audience and leave them with a positive message: that there’s courage and strength in overcoming the social expectations men still face to mask their emotions.
I’m proud of the end product we’ve crafted and I hope audiences find as much joy watching it as we did creating it.
Never underestimate the power of a hug.
Filmmaker Drew Kendell
Find more about Drew's work via http://dkfilmmaker.com/