Scarred Hearts is my story. For as long as I can remember until the age of eight, I watched as my father berated, beat, threatened, and controlled my mother and me, leaving us shells of the happy people we once were. For my mother, her will to stand up to her abuser came from her love of her son. For me, the strength came from connecting with people who have suffered similar pain and anguish. Music brought the light back into my life. Scarred Hearts is a love letter to the songs and artists that spoke to me through their work and told me that I will rise above my pain.

This script was developed with the belief that something so personal is also, sadly, universal. The details of the lives of domestic abuse victims, the primal fears and struggles are often hidden away and spoken about in hushed tones. The belief that the abuse we’ve suffered defines us in some way, dictates who we must become and how we must live can often be deafening. But we must be louder and stronger. This story speaks to anyone who has been in such a situation and tells them that with courage you can rise above your situation. The real struggles, and all the quirky humor gave the film an authenticity that I hope will make it more powerful and more relatable for all kinds of people. 

The story is a realistic and sometimes frightening window into the life of domestic abuse victims, who yearn to find the courage to break free of their oppressors. We follow Johanna, a young charismatic woman struggling under the thumb of her emotionally and physically abusive father, Cliff, as she fights to liberate herself through the expressionistic force that is rock n’ roll. Around Cliff, we immediately feel the fear that Johanna lives in. His insistence that Johanna leave such petty fantasies in the dirt, coupled with his fascist-like control over his household, introduces us to who he really is; a bitter man who terrorizes his family to get his way. Cliff represents the classic toxic male abuser; the type of person who uses fear to control their partners, and threatens to harm when met with even the slightest amount of “pushback.” Pushback comes in the form of Johanna’s rebellion thanks to her newfound voice which she finds through her music. Deborah begins to take a cue from her daughter and taps into her own self-worth. Initially presented as meek and frightened, Deborah too will come into her own in a display of self-actualization and power. 

Johanna meets a quirky band of characters that show her just how loved and valuable she is. Amber represents Johanna’s immediate need; watching a young woman live her life the way she wants for herself. She gives Johanna the shot she’s always wanted and helps open the door to her new world. Amber and the rest of the band are influential connections to the music and its power that allows Johanna to find her strength and voice. Of course, Amber is not without her own harrowing history; she is the survivor of childhood sexual abuse. Behind her strong and carefree mask, she hides a difficult yet defining moment in her life which has led her where she is today. She is strong, and has overcome the worst, with the help of her Aunt Carol and her introduction to music. 

Dylan and Travis also draw upon their own experiences and pain, be it drug addicted parents or familial neglect, and channel it into much-needed comedic relief. This is done not for the sake of a comedic moment, but in a genuine coping mechanism that people often resort to, yet it puts Johanna at ease. They connect not just through their shared passion for Rock, but through shared experiences of abuse and violence. 

So, why should a man tell this story when it is so strongly female led? Johanna was written with an emphasis on her sensitivity, an aspect of myself that I struggled with at first but have grown to embrace. The choice to make Johanna’s character female was, I think, both a conscious and subconscious one, as it is a way for me to speak openly through the character from my sensitive side while retaining my experiences and sharing them through the director’s side. Having a male director lead the charge to open the floor to these difficult conversations is a tremendous step forward in the fight against domestic violence. Having my story told through the amazing vessel that is Johanna is a wonderful way to inspire young women to set boundaries and know when to stand up. By telling the story in a way that is universally accepted, I know that it will inspire meaningful conversations for victims and survivors of abuse of all ages and genders. 

The different environments represent Johanna’s evolution through her world. To bring out the feelings of her stifled home life, we will shoot mostly in tight framing. The colors of the walls will be muted; almost a constrictive blue/gray. The one room with any deviation in color will be Johanna’s; painted a very muted pastel purple, representing her underlying creativity that has been smothered by external overbearing factors. In opposition to this, the scenes in the garage will be shot in wide and medium, bringing an air of freedom. Vibrant colors in the record store will give life to Johanna’s surroundings. 

It is here where we see Johanna in her prime, before leaving her to continue her story. The Scarred Hearts don’t play a big show in the end, but instead, a simple open mic serves as Johanna’s jump off point to the next steps in her story. Though set in the quaint record store, this final scene will be shot with sweeping concert cinematics, stage lighting, and the roar of a respectable local neighborhood crowd. We witness Johanna in a state of contentment, in a safe place for her to finally be herself as the Rock Goddess we knew she could be. It is a perfectly-imperfect ending that sums up our characters’ internal victories. 

The script has garnered high praise and recognition in the industry over the last year and has attracted notable talent and organizations. For the role of Deborah, we have attracted the attention of an Oscar award winning actress who is a strong voice publicly for child trafficking and domestic violence. The role of Johanna will be played by a strong, multi-talented, up and coming young actress. We are looking to attach a strong actor who is passionate about the story and whose talent brings much needed gravitas to the role of Cliff. Scarred Hearts has garnered the attention of domestic violence advocacy groups such as Day One NYC and Safe Horizon. 

Scarred Hearts has a projected budget of $3 million and will be filming in New York/New Jersey. Our current shooting schedule is set for October 2024.

My hope is that the audience will see themselves in one, if not several of these characters and know that they are not alone. They will ride the journey as Johanna does; fearful, contented, anxious, tearful, but ultimately, hopeful. Perhaps someone may see themself in Cliff and recognize the need to change. Scarred Hearts is a universal story of resilience and growth that I am certain many will feel connected to. It will inspire those who have been in abusive relationships to speak up. It will empower women of all ages to see themselves as valuable. It will continue the dialogue and spark meaningful conversations to prevent and stop domestic violence. Perhaps it can even save someone’s life like music did for me. 

You are NOT broken. And, like Johanna, you will find your voice. 

With my deepest gratitude, 

Andrew Akler – Writer, Director, and Producer of Scarred Hearts