A TALE OF TWO BROTHERS: TWAIN UNVEILS SECRETS, LOYALTY, AND THE DEPTHS OF FAMILY LOVE

November 5, 2024

“They allow us to confront fears and darker emotions from a distance, almost like a controlled way to experience danger.”

TWAIN

In the highly anticipated short thriller TWAIN, BAFTA-nominated actor Éanna Hardwicke delivers a stunning dual performance as identical twin brothers divided by prison walls.

Written and directed by promising new filmmaker Pip, this intense narrative explores themes of brotherhood, identity, and buried secrets within the taut confines of a prison visiting booth.

As memories, shared trauma, and deeply rooted bonds resurface, TWAIN leads viewers through a suspense-filled drama with unexpected twists, gripping until the final revelation.

Hardwicke’s compelling portrayal of both brothers, each distinct in personality and physicality, showcases his range and ability to navigate the psychological depth of his characters.

Watching Éanna inhabit two incredibly different characters was truly astonishing to witness,” explains Pip. “The way that dual performance plays out at the end of the film still gives me goosebumps.”

TWAIN marks Pip’s first foray into narrative filmmaking, following his decade-long career as a portrait and fine art photographer whose work has graced magazines like Vogue, GQ, and Vanity Fair.

Pip notes that the story is a deep dive into “the nuances of connection and tension” between siblings, especially when communication falters—a theme he found especially poignant to explore through identical twins.

Produced by Daisy Edgar-Jones, known for her performances in Normal People and Where the Crawdads Sing, Twain is the debut project from her new production company, Hundred Fires.

With support from acclaimed talents like Oscar-winning makeup designer Nadia Stacey and BAFTA-nominated costume designer Sarah Young, the film is meticulously crafted to evoke both visual and emotional depth.

Discussing his inspiration, Pip shared his fascination with “the outer edges of human behaviour” and the dark allure of family dramas, noting that such stories offer a safe way for audiences to confront repressed emotions.

Like the story of the Menendez Brothers, TWAIN challenges viewers to consider loyalty, resentment, and moral ambiguity within complex family bonds.

The suspense of TWAIN is masterfully built through the cinematography and sound and Hardwicke’s nuanced performance, which keeps the audience questioning each character’s motives.

For Pip, the film explores layered storytelling, inviting viewers to see that “every story has two sides—and often, the most profound truths are found in the ambiguities between them.”

As TWAIN premieres at the Aesthetica Film Festival, audiences worldwide will soon have the chance to experience this powerful narrative, which promises to resonate well beyond its short runtime.

“We’re thrilled to have the film premiere at the Aesthetica Film Festival in York, my hometown,” Pip tells us. “From there, we’ll be taking it to international film festivals over the next year, and we’re genuinely excited to share it with audiences worldwide. It’s been a journey, and we can’t wait for people to experience the story we’ve crafted.”

It was a pleasure for the Atlantic Dispatch to sit down with Pip and learn more about the making of Twain, the inspiration behind it and why we are so drawn to the dark side of human behaviour.

***PIP BEHIND THE SCENES WITH ACTOR ÉANNA HARDWICKE***

WILLING TO DO ANYTHING FOR EACH OTHER

I’ve always been fascinated by the complex dynamics of familial relationships—the closeness and, at times, the awkwardness, especially among men.

Brothers, for instance, might be willing to do anything for each other, yet often struggle with direct communication.

I wanted to delve into that bond, exploring the nuances of connection and tension that can exist between siblings.

Introducing the concept of identical twins amplified this theme, intensifying the idea of connection and identity, while also posing a unique technical challenge for both the actor and me as a filmmaker.

It allowed us to push the boundaries of that brotherly bond in a way that’s both intimate and heightened

THE THRILL OF THE UNKNOWN

I think we’re drawn to darker stories and dramas because they explore the outer edges of human behaviour, giving us a safe space to examine parts of ourselves and society that are usually repressed or hidden.

Stories about extreme situations, like the Menendez Brothers or other dark family dramas, bring our attention to the complexity of family bonds—love, resentment, loyalty, and betrayal—and challenge our assumptions about them.

At the same time, there’s a psychological allure to watching these stories unfold. They allow us to confront fears and darker emotions from a distance, almost like a controlled way to experience danger.

This blend of empathy and distance lets us safely question, ‘What would I do in that situation?’ It’s a mix of intrigue, moral questioning, and the thrill of the unknown.

In an age where we see curated images and happy family portrayals everywhere, these darker stories break through that facade, offering a raw, unfiltered view of the human experience that feels both shocking and grounding.

They remind us of the full spectrum of human emotion, which is endlessly compelling because it’s endlessly complex

EVERY STORY HAS TWO SIDES

My goal was to create a story layered with subtext, where silences and visual storytelling resonate just as powerfully as dialogue.

Character is at the heart of storytelling for me, so I crafted the two leads with complex layers that sustain an unspoken tension, inviting the audience to delve deeply and stay engaged.

I aim to remain impartial in my portrayal of characters; in TWAIN, they’re not vehicles for a single moral truth but rather conduits to explore the nuanced territories of morality and prejudice.

If there’s a core message, it’s that every story has two sides—and often, the most profound truths are found in the ambiguities between them.

The tension really is the driving force of the whole film. While the cinematography and music establish the tone, I think the performances are where the real tension lies.

Éanna, in particular, is such a compelling actor that he brings unpredictability to every scene, making you second-guess his every move. His nuanced performance adds layers of suspense and keeps the audience on edge, wondering what he might do next.