The Things In Between
Filmmaker Miriam Agwai’s latest work, The Things In Between, is the story of a young Black couple revisiting the internal struggles that tore their relationship apart. Starring Miriam Agwai and Lenny Thomas (Tyler Perry’s Ruthless) as Grace and Michael. Agwai also wrote, directed, and produced the story of former lovers reuniting to answer seemingly ordinary questions about their time together only to find the memories of their personal battles with mental health and legal status reveal a torrent of never expressed emotions.
“I wanted to make a simple film about love - the memory of it, the ordinariness of it, the ‘bittersweetness’ of it. I wanted to create this work in a way that felt intimate, not just for the characters, but hopefully for the viewers as well. I also wanted to create a story that put a human face to mental health and immigration. As someone who’s dealt with depression and anxiety on top of being an immigrant, I didn’t want those themes to feel like they were just buzzwords. I didn’t want to cheapen my experience or the experiences of countless people I know and love. Hopefully, this film encourages people to have important and honest conversations in their own lives.”
The filmmaker has partnered with artist Ruth Abel to create a complementary set of real-life questions for viewers to consider while they contemplate themes raised by the film’s characters.
The full film, as well as resources detailing immigration advocacy and mental health advice for men, women, and queer people of color, is available to stream, free of charge at www.thethingsinbetween.com. You can also follow along and join the conversation, on social too via Instagram: @thethingsinbetweenfilm
About the filmmaker:
Miriam Agwai is a Nigerian filmmaker & actor in NYC. She's worked in theatre, advertising, and television production. Her short film Homecoming screened at the NewFilmmakers NY, Estes Park Film Festival, and Lady Filmmakers Film Festival in 2010. In 2013, she directed the music video for African Girl by Naomi Wachira, which ran on DSTV, Citizen TV, Njata TV, KBC TV, and the Africa Channel. She directed the play BALANCES by Janice Lagata as part of the 2019 Emerging Artists Theatre New Work Series. As a third culture kid, she is passionate about pursuing work that helps others feel seen and heard in the fullness of our humanity.
Follow her on Instagram: @floweringsword