A police funded thriller exploring domestic abuse is to have its World Premiere next week at Market Hall cinema in Brynmawr.
‘The Devil’s Vice’, funded by GIFT (Gwent Independent Film Trust), Gwent Police and a number of UK police forces, has been made by BAFTA winning film maker Peter Watkins Hughes from Brynmawr.
Following the story of a young middle class couple, a pregnant woman and her husband living in rural Monmouthshire, the film explores the control, manipulation and complexities surrounding domestic abuse from a totally different angle.
“We were looking for a new way of reaching a new generation,” said Gwent Police Deputy Chief Constable Lorraine Bottomley, who will host the premiere.
“This format means people will see the real horror of domestic violence in a new context.”
The Force was one of four UK pilot areas for the Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme (known as Clare’s Law). This allows people to request access to a partner’s criminal record. This scheme will be rolled out to every part of the UK from March 8th, 2014.
We will be offering the film to every UK Force and to community groups, together with a website which will offer advice and information (http://www.thedevilsvice.org.uk).
The film will be premiered at the Market Hall cinema in Brynmawr on Thursday 13th February at 7pm. It stars young Welsh actors Gareth Jewell and Sara Lloyd Gregory.
“The Devil’s Vice is a very important film to show because domestic abuse can take many guises; it can be mental as well as physical and is dangerous in every way. I believe that everyone has the right to know who hey are dealing with when they enter a relationship, and that is reason enough for Clare’s law,” said Sara, a BAFTA award winning actress.
Assistant Chief Constable Louisa Rolfe, of Avon and Somerset Police, is the national policing business lead for domestic abuse:
“I’d like to applaud Gwent Police for having the courage to present the subject in a very different way, which will, I’m sure, help young men and women understand some of the issues behind domestic abuse, and encourage those suffering to report it to the police. We work with many other agencies to safeguard both women and men who report abuse,” said Ms Rolfe.
“Our hope is that publicity around the film, and its unusual subject material, will alert people to their right to ask under the Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme, and will give sufferers the courage to break out of abusive relationships.”
