Revenge best served cold
Van der Vyver novel hits big screen
INTERNATIONALLY acclaimed author Marita van der Vyver was in her homeland of South Africa last week for the release of Dis Koue Kos, Skat, in Afrikaans with English subtitles, at all cinemas nationwide. The new comedy-drama is based on her popular novel of the same title and features local talent such as Anna-Mart van der Merwe, Frank Opperman, Deon Lotz and Elzabe Zietsman; along with cameos from names such as Bouwer Bosch and Anne Hirsch.
Etienne Fourie is the film’s writer and director, and is best known for his work on Die Windpomp.
Dis Koue Kos, Skat explores the themes of betrayal, jealousy, family, starting over and revenge.
“These themes are universal and we all can, in one way or another, connect to it,” said Fourie.
“For me, it is important to personally relate to every story that I tell – whether it is my own story or whether someone else’s. My philosophy is that I cannot expect somebody else to be interested in a story, if I am not crazy about it myself and also if I don’t wholeheartedly believe in it.”
Van der Vyver published three novels for adolescents before her first adult novel, Griet Skryf ’n Sprokie, became a best-seller, winning the M-Net, Eugène Marais and ATKV prizes in 1992. Since then, she has been a full-time writer of fiction and lives in a small village in the south of France with her French husband.
Dis Koue Kos, Skat tells the story of food writer Clara Brand (played by Van der Merwe), who after discovering that her husband Bernard (Lotz) had been unfaithful to her with one of her best friends, decides to make a fresh start in Cape Town with her two children and their pug, Tjoklit.
She sets off on a journey of healing and revenge and when seven students – all men – show up at Clara’s new cooking class, her best friend, Minette (Zietsman), is convinced that the universe is sending her a message – it is time for a revival of her love life.
Thus, after being married for two decades, Clara dares to venture into the world of dating. Clara experiences the different phases of her recovery process – anger, acceptance, the mending of ties with her ex-husband, the ongoing effort to ensure that her children have a normal upbringing and the possibility of a brand new romance – with (attempts at) dignity and, of course, delicious food.
Clara’s story is one of new beginnings, humour, heartache and adventure. Revenge is a dish best served cold and, if there is one thing that Clara is sure of, it is that there is a recipe for every occasion – or disaster.
Van der Vyver signed books and met fans in Cape Town and Pretoria this weekend. Several book and script projects are currently in the pipeline.