30 October 2026 | By Molly LipsonText Me When You’re Home, the new short by writer-director Sarah Dawes, tells a far too familiar story. After closing up a bar on a typical weekend night, Josie, a self-aware and resourceful bartender, finds herself in an unsettling encounter with a seemingly harmless, tipsy male stranger. What starts as casual small talk quickly turns into a game of intimidation as the man ignores social cues, invades her personal space, and manipulates the situation to assert control. Isolated on a quiet street, Josie relies on her instincts—honed from experiences like this before, to steer the conversation and keep the situation from escalating. When a second man shows up, he provides a
The film explores the subtle, everyday fears that women face in public spaces, the silent calculations they make to stay safe, and how a simple interjection from a stranger can defuse the situation without confrontation.
“Inspired by my own experiences, this film asks the question, who is responsible for women’s safety? Often, stories like this focus solely on what happens to women and highlight the dangers they face. While that experience is also a key theme in this story, my intention is to go further and invite men into the conversation – not to accuse, but to highlight the importance of their allyship,” says Dawes. “At it’s core, this film is about how behaviour that feels harmless or friendly to one person can quietly cross a line for another, and how a single, simple interruption can prevent a situation from escalating.”
