EL plays starring role in new Qubeka film
Local drama delving into depths of teenage angst is available on streaming services
A film shot predominantly in East London by renowned Mdantsane filmmaker Jamil XT Qubeka is now available on streaming services Amazon Prime and e-vod.
You’re My Favourite Place, shot in 2019, features Eastern Cape actors including Tumie Ngumla and Khayakazi Kula.
Also featured is award-winning veteran actress Mary Twala, who died in 2020.
The movie, a drama, was shot at locations across East London, including in Duncan Village and Hudson Park, and at Hole in the Wall in Coffee Bay.
Four Hudson Park High School pupils who are battling with life and finding a way to cope with its adversities are depicted in the film.
Ngumla, who features in Qubeka’s supernatural production Blood Psalms, plays the role of Nelisa.
Kula, well known from the telenovelas The Queen and Blood Psalms, plays Cwaita.
Niza Jay from Knuckle City, another critically acclaimed Qubeka production, plays a troubled homosexual boy known as Zongi. Awethu Hleli plays Tiny. Qubeka, an award-winning director, producer and writer from Yellowbone Productions, examines the reality of young people struggling to redefine themselves in an uncertain world.
He said he wanted to investigate the relationship between spaces and bodies.
“You’re My Favourite Place is an ambitious attempt to delve deeper into the depths of teen angst.
“After graduating from high school, three teenage girls and a homosexual boy are about to step into a world of utter uncertainty.”
Qubeka said the film’s development took three months; the crew shot for 21 days, “and we have been working postproduction ever since”. There had been challenges. “It is always difficult to shoot outside your area of residence because you need to find contacts and people who can help with resources in each location.
“We were fortunate in that East London and the Buffalo City Metro were supportive of our shoot.”
He said having the film finalised had been exciting.
Jay, from Mthatha, said he was thrilled with the movie.
“Zongi basically enjoys the life of a party, but he has his own battles.
“All the things he does are a way to hide the issues he is dealing with.
“He is very spoilt and comes from a wealthy family who give him a lot of money just to keep out of their way.”
Zongi turns to drugs and alcohol to cope with the rejection and stress.
Jay said the opportunity to take part in the film came when he was in a dark place and it changed everything.
“This is my third film and I’ve been acting since 2016. Making this film has been joyous and gratifying.
“It was a challenging experience, but it was so much fun. It gave me a sense of joy.
“I am so happy to work again.”