When I first watched Daniel Deville’s By Any Other Name short film I just sat there in complete awe. The film uses London’s sex trafficking trade as its backdrop. To understand the dark underbelly of London, the sex trafficking of minors is up 63% from 2018-2022 and the problem isn’t going away.
By Any Other Name is about a young girl, who was kidnapped when she was twelve and for seven years she was trafficked while her adoptive sister Diane, played by the brilliant actress Jade Anouka gets a phone call about the possibility of the police authorities finding her. On a side note, Jade is has a great future in acting, and I will say it here, she is an Oscar quality actress, no doubt about it. Jade shows the emotional toll of never giving up to find her sister and isn’t waiting on the authorities to do all the work. She portrays the hurt, the loss, the pain, but the tenacity to continue her search.
The main character “The Clown Girl” is played by first time actress Lauren Planner. Not many could have handled the dark topic as well as an animalistic sex scene that Daniel directed to perfection. She brings the fragile character in only the small bit of freedom she has, which is being a street performer during the earning a few bucks from passing admirers. At night, she is used by anyone who is wiling to pay the price for her. Her handler, is as dark as the film and the audience will literally want to stick their claws into this villain. How dare you treat such a tender, beautiful girl like that! If this was 17th century London, we’d say off with your head!
This film is beautiful, perfect, and even magnificent in the combination of the storytelling, acting, and cinematography. I wouldn’t change a thing. What makes a film about sex trafficking beautiful you ask? Because in the midst of the darkness, Daniel’s directing leads us to the light. I even shed tears with the ending of his film. Filmmaking is an art and Daniel Deville has proven that film is his canvas and he is an artist who was bold enough to go into the darkness.
By Any Other Name is produced by the Oscar-winning production company headed by Chris Overton, Slick Films. This is the fourth film I have done an interview produced by Slick Films and they never disappoint.
If you attend any of the upcoming film festivals where By Any Other Name is being premiered, take a seat, focus and let the story come to you. You will understand why this film is beautiful.
Watch the Bond on Cinema interview with Daniel Deville as we discuss more details about his incredible film.
