Why Did(n’t) You Leave? 12 mins (experimental short)

Directed, edited and produced by Sam Joseph.

Sound by Calvin Calica.

Why Did(n’t) You Leave? is an experimental short documentary that intertwines the story of a domestic violence survivor with reflection on the value of disused buildings. The film challenges the societal structures that confine women and the value systems that render their suffering invisible.

Set within a derelict London factory on Gillender Street, an industrial site once built for profit and now waiting to be of value, the space holds the potential to become a sanctuary for survivors of domestic abuse. Through collage, photography, 3D interior scanning, architectural models, and sound, the building emerges as a metaphor for the social neglect of women whose trauma is minimised and dismissed. UK domestic violence statistics reverberate through its hollow chambers, confronting the enduring question:

Why did(n’t) you leave? A question unashamedly that victim-blames survivors.