(IN)VISIBLE is a psychological short debut film written, directed and produced by Sam Joseph that explores the psychological effects of domestic abuse and society’s complicity in trial and judgement. A young wife, abused by her older husband, is misread as cold and detached while he charms his friends. When he suddenly leaves during a very awkward and tense pre-dinner gathering against the backdrop of a symbolic art exhibition, she finds herself at the centre of an uncomfortable, damning trial by those who only know his version of the story. The trial unfolds around a contemporary table setting, echoing iconic scenes from art history, showing the historical repeated patterns of how women are seen, silenced, and judged.
The film’s emotional power lies in what remains unsaid, and reveals the insidious nature of domestic abuse and the ease with which a perpetrator can shape a victims story, in this narrative the wife endures a hostile societal trial and judgment with strength, dignity and resilience.
Director Statement, Sam Joseph
Sam Joseph is a female visionary filmmaker, visual artist and a PhD Researcher at the Royal College of Art. Sam’s work challenges societal norms and gender inequality, focusing on gender-based violence in everyday and public spaces. Sam’s global award-winning debut film, “(IN)VISIBLE”, redefines cinematic feminist storytelling and celebrates women’s strength, dignity and resilience.
(IN)VISIBLE is more than a film, it is a deeply personal exploration of the unspoken narratives that shape women's collective experience. Rooted in my passion for storytelling and social justice, this project emerged from a desire to confront the complexities of the "visible and (in)visible" in our world, particularly around issues of domestic violence and control systems against women, sustainability, and the value systems that define us.
I have always sought to create work that challenges and reframes perceptions, inspiring meaningful conversation. Through (IN)VISIBLE, I aimed to craft a visual (collaborating with DOP Zoran Veljkovic) and emotional journey through experimental film methods that invites audiences to reflect on the structures we live within, the voices we fail to hear, and the stories we often leave untold however uncomfortable that may be.
I would like to thank the team and all those who contributed to the making of (IN)VISIBLE including RCA superSATELLITE residency and the community of New Acres, Wandsworth.
(IN)VISIBLE is a call to see the unseen, to listen to the unheard, and to engage with the world through a lens of empathy and integrity.
photography by Simon Roberts