Limpopo short film confronts the topic of bullying
Short film, Nhlamulo, explores the long-term psychological impact of bullying, trauma and healing, with a powerful story filmed in Tzaneen.
LIMPOPO – Samsrec Productions’ new short film, Nhlamulo, explores the long-term psychological impact of bullying and how unresolved trauma can echo across generations, or be interrupted through empathy and understanding.
The 20-minute film, available on YouTube, avoids easy answers and instead invites critical conversations about accountability, compassion, and collective responsibility.
The story follows Nhlamulo, a successful lawyer played by Adv Carla Mkhawana, who is still haunted by the scars of childhood bullying. Her carefully constructed life is disrupted when she recognises Lerato, now a struggling market vendor, as the person who tormented her years earlier. Confronted with her past, Nhlamulo must choose between vengeance and healing.
Director and producer Samuel Ntsanwisi says bullying is often misunderstood as an isolated act or the result of individual cruelty.
“With Nhlamulo, I wanted to challenge that narrative,” he said. “The film was born out of the realisation that bullying is deeply rooted in systems, environments, and learned behaviours. It thrives in silence and in spaces where pain goes unaddressed.”
The film was written and shot in Nkowankowa in Tzaneen, where Ntsanwisi and most of the cast and crew were born and raised. Lerato is portrayed by content creator Vennessa Bill, who described the experience as her first opportunity to act in a full production.
“This was my first time doing proper acting, with crew members following me with big cameras,” she said. “It was a great experience because it’s very different from content creation, where I usually work alone with one person recording me,” she told the Herald.
Bill encouraged audiences to watch the film, saying it offers valuable lessons for both children and parents.
Ntsanwisi said he is proud that the team produced a high-quality film on a limited budget, adding that his goal is to continue developing and supporting local actors and crew members.
Nhlamulo was strategically released on Saturday, January 24, to coincide with the International Day of Education. The film is available on the Samsrec TV YouTube channel.
