Rise and Shine Films
Get in touch with us at info@new.com
THE QUIET ONE
a feature documentary film
A window into the soul of our past — through the eyes of a father whose separation from his son opened a path back to family, heritage, and memory.
In 1975, Oscar Gutierrez fled Guatemala’s civil war with nothing but grit and a dream. He reinvented himself in the U.S., then followed a calling to South Africa on the brink of democracy. Behind the lens, Oscar captured liberation’s quiet moments — so quietly that Nelson Mandela called him “the quiet one.”
But behind the silence was heartbreak: Oscar had lost his son, Hawk, for 35 years. On New Year’s Eve 2022, Hawk reached out. Father and son began the fragile work of reunion — across decades, continents, and silence itself.
The Quiet One is a feature documentary about exile and belonging, memory and repair — a father and son finding their way back to each other, set against the rebirth of a nation.
Film Synopsis
Why are we Crowdfunding?
In 1975, Oscar Gutierrez fled Guatemala’s civil war with nothing but grit and a dream. He reinvented himself in the U.S., then followed a calling to South Africa on the brink of democracy. Behind the lens, Oscar captured liberation’s quiet moments — so quietly that Nelson Mandela called him “the quiet one.”
But behind the silence was heartbreak: Oscar had lost his son, Hawk, for 35 years. On New Year’s Eve 2022, Hawk reached out. Father and son began the fragile work of reunion — across decades, continents, and silence itself.
The Quiet One is a feature documentary about exile and belonging, memory and repair — a father and son finding their way back to each other, set against the rebirth of a nation.
We’ve secured funding from South Africa’s NFVF and GFC, partnered with sales agent Truly Good Films, and built global momentum. Now we need your help to take the story home: to Guatemala, where Oscar’s journey began.
Our Goal: $22,189 / R412,720
Your support will fund a lean 7-day shoot in Guatemala to capture the voices and images that complete this story. Every contribution matters. Every share spreads the word. Together, we can carry this film — and this love story — all the way home.
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