LETTER FROM THE CREATOR
Muzzler is about censorship, both external and self-inflicted.
It’s not a new problem. It just has different iterations in each generation.
My hope is that this film inspires louder declarations of the truth, regardless of the figurative muzzles that try to silence them.
the history
For centuries, the ability to silence another was a power usually wielded against marginalized people whose words were perceived as dangerous.
We’ve seen this trend repeated throughout history: from tongue removals as punishment for denying one’s adoptive family in Hammurabi’s Code (c. 1750 BC) - to tongue piercings of indigenous children who spoke their native language in Canadian residential schools (c. 1880s) - to the hideous scold’s bridle masks used to muzzle outspoken white women and enslaved Africans in Europe and the United States (c. 1700s-1800s).
As we currently witness widespread book bans, the censure of radical voices and the destabilization of social media like Twitter and TikTok, we can trace the basis of these actions to a single source - the discomfort that those in power have with the truth.
These dishonorable methods of suppression are the dark inspiration behind Muzzler.
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Hopefully by Spring/Summer 2025!
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Follow our page on Instagram @muzzlerfilm!
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And donate if you want to be a part of a radical, unflinching glimpse of the truth!
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Your (extremely appreciated) donation goes toward location permits, equipment, custom-made muzzles, original music, and paying our talented cast/crew fairly!
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Sweet perks like:
original zines, t-shirts and posters designed by our writer/director Leeya Mengistu
a screener link to watch Muzzler from the comfort of your home
an official Contributor, Associate or Executive credit included in the film
our deep, deep gratitude for making this dream possible!
It's a shame. They'd rather take someone's ability to speak than hear the truth.
It's a shame. They'd rather take someone's ability to speak than hear the truth.