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Lil_ith- Love in Hate City

Lilith immerses itself in Johannesburg's gritty adult entertainment scene, where neon lights flicker over a decaying post-apartheid landscape.

A new South African culture rises, with the next generation navigating sexuality, generational manipulation, and the power of money. Like a delicate strip tease, it builds toward an explosive crescendo.

At the center is Lilith, an online cam model, whose late-night liaison with a mysterious "John" turns into a high-stakes psychological game. As both the subject and object of desire, Lilith and her unsettling suitor reveal their hidden motives through the balmy summer night. Dominating the sexual economy, Lilith’s journey shows how love has freed her from past trauma, helping her forge a new identity in a nation still trapped in sexual power struggles while undergoing decolonization. She finds strength in a resilient community of outsiders, discovering a kindred spirit and a beautiful toxic love affair that gives her the security she’s always craved.

Lilith explores self-redefinition and morally questionable empowerment, delving into the complexities of the black feminine experience in a country that often masks its inclusivity. Capturing those on society’s fringes, Lilith embraces free will and enigmatic existence, stepping into the untamed melting pot of South African underground street culture—a home for many forgotten, defiant youth.

  • Robin Claude de Jager
    Director
    Bakhona- They are here
  • Robin Claude de Jager
    Writer
    Bakhona- They are here
  • Siphesihle Cee Cee Ndaba
    Producer
  • Monareng Makwetla
    Producer
  • Robin Claude de Jager
    Producer
  • Siphesihle Cee Cee Ndaba
    Key Cast
    "Lilith"
    Gomora 2020, For coloured Girls (theatre) , We are proud to present…(theatre)
  • Cara Roberts
    Key Cast
    "Jen"
    Black Sails (2017) , Durban Poison (2013), Musiek vir die Agtergrond (2013) , Hatchet hour (2016)
  • Paul Rabenowitz
    Key Cast
    "Adam"
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Runtime:
    19 minutes 50 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    November 1, 2024
  • Production Budget:
    480,000 ZAR
  • Country of Origin:
    South Africa
  • Country of Filming:
    South Africa
  • Language:
    Afrikaans, English, Zulu
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital- Sony Venice
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Robin Claude de Jager

Robin de Jager is a South African writer and director celebrated for his bold, thought-provoking narratives that explore urban subculture, queer identity, spirituality, and cultural heritage within South Africa's unique socio-political landscape. He discovered his love for these themes while studying Fine Arts at the University of the Witwatersrand, where he deepened his artistic expression in identity politics.

After a successful career as an advertising creative and commercial director across South Africa, Nigeria, and the UK, Robin returned to academia, pursuing a Master’s in film and engaging with South Africa's de-colonial New Film movement.

His creative journey includes collaborations with icons like Neill Blomkamp, Moonchild Sanelly, Pearl Thusi, and Sho Madjozi, with his debut film Bakhona earning international accolades, including the Rode Reel award.
His ongoing project, Safe as Houses, a queer pan-African documentary series, showcases his commitment to authentic and provocative storytelling.

Today, Robin is recognised as one of the continent's most sought-after writers and directors, pushing for a fresh, proud African voice in film.

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Director Statement

Lil_ith is a love story with teeth—a visceral exploration of survival, power, and identity that dismantles the binaries of sexuality and race that once held South Africa captive.

At its core, the film reclaims power through the ownership of marginalized identities. Set against the backdrop of reclaimed apartheid and colonial spaces, it reimagines these historically oppressive landscapes as liberated arenas for a new generation. Reflecting the electric collision of languages, histories, and new culture that shape contemporary South Africa, Lil_ith exposes how themes often regarded as taboo—sexuality, race, and survival—are central to the lives of its youth.

On a personal level, Lil_ith is a cathartic journey—a reflection of my own decolonization and the dismantling of a conditioned worldview shaped by a rigid upbringing. It confronts the lingering “identity hangover” of a fractured past and celebrates the eventual embrace of my identity as a queer individual in a young democracy. The film pays homage to the subcultures that nurtured me, thriving beneath the surface of mainstream society. It also explores the tensions between traditional cultures and indoctrinated Christianity, where reimagined customs and religious iconoclasm collide.

More than a film, Lil_ith is a manifesto for sidelined youth—a raw ode to those who redefine power and love in spaces others often overlook. It captures the vibrant, defiant, and, at times, messy lives of South Africa’s peripheral youth as they carve out a future on their own terms.