Local film nominated
A SOUTH African-produced short film was nominated for the Cannes Film Festival’s short film competition.
Saloon, a contemporary Western, was made in isizulu.
The festival showcases independent and first-time directors making low-budget films with indie spirit.
Although the movie did not win in the best short film category, the director, Dayakar Padayachee, believes it has made an impact at award ceremonies and has been picked up by film festivals throughout the world.
Written by Padayachee, Yateen Dayaram and Nompilo Nyathikazi, and produced by Pelisha Somiah and Joash Moonsamy, the 12-minute film stars Kwenzo Ngcobo and Mbalenhle Mavimbela.
Ngcobo portrays a hit man yearning for a righteous path, only to find destiny written out for him. In a dystopian alternative South Africa, he sets off to the safe haven, Saloons, for a drink, only to learn enemies are all around him.
“A friend gave me the idea of a guy who walks into a bar and a bit of a gunslinger situation that happens. I thought about it and conceived this idea of a post-apocalyptic South Africa where all the assassins in the world are regulated to areas and carry out their tasks,” he said.
Asked if directing the film in isizulu was challenging, Padayachee said: “I had a consultant, my friend Nompilo Nyathikazi, who helped me, especially during the editing and subtitle session. It was a bit of a challenge but it was an amazing experience.
“In fact my recent release, The Caretaker, has some parts in Afrikaans. And that was also quite fun to work on. But my crew were Afrikaans so it was a little easier to get around,” he said.
Saloon will be screened at the Mazisi Kunene Museum, in Glenwood, Durban, on April 2.
Padayachee, who is from Durban, said the film was previously screened at the South African Indie Film Festival in Cape Town last year and the Bokeh International Lifestyle and Fashion Film Festival. It is also being streamed on an American independent channel.
“We would like to get funding for a series which the movie builds up to,” he said.
Padayachee said his production team was currently working on two proposals for funding.
The first is a feature film, Cut Throat, which is a dark comedy featuring an Indian family.
The other is a dance-thriller-style drama set in Johannesburg.