Loads of celluloid delight
A crop of compelling local movies held their own on the global stage in 2015, writes Somaya stockenstroom
EACH year South African cinema grows in leaps and bounds to deliver films that compete for awards at international levels.
One of the best ones to come out of Mzansi this year was Thina Sobabili ( The Two
of Us). Produced, written and directed by Ernest Nkosi, the story is set in Alexandra, Johannesburg, and tells the story of tough choices made by youth living in the township.
Independently funded by The Monarchy Group over a four-year period, it was filmed in a week. It won the Audience Award at the 2015 Pan African Film Festival and the same award seven days later at the Jozi Film Festival. On the weekend of its theatrical release, it won the Silverback Best Feature Film at the Rwanda Film Festival while ranking eighth as the only non-studio film in the top 10 at the South African box office.
It was also selected as the South African entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 88th Academy Awards.
Ayanda made international headlines when it opened in October. It tells the story of a 21-year-old woman who is determined to preserve her late father ’ s legacy.
Shot in the streets of Yeoville, also Johannesburg, the movie gives the audience a vivid and colourful view of present-day South Africa.
Director Sara Blecher described it as a story about women, by women.
It received a special mention award at its world premiere in Los Angeles in June before having a successful screening at the Cannes Film festival.
Producer Terry Pheto said: “International reception has been fantastic. We even got distribution in the US. That ’ s a bit of a milestone for an African film with a tiny budget.”
South African producer Anant Singh ( Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom) collaborated with Canadian producer Robert Lantos to create Remember.
The film tells the story of a man who discovers the identity of the Nazi who killed his family during the Second World War. He ventures on a long road trip to find the man, planning to exact justice, but his journey has some unexpected consequence. It received rave reviews and there was a standing ovation at the Venice Film Festival in September.
Akin Omotoso ’ s film may not have received rave reviews, but it was a good effort by the revered producer.
Tell Me Sweet Something is a romantic comedy about Moratiwa, played by Nomzamo Mbatha, an aspiring writer who agrees to a night out with her best friend, and meets an unlikely love interest in Nat, played by Maps Maponyane. A feelgood film that is perfect to watch during holidays.
Hear Me Move was SA ’ s first dance film that screened at Cannes and London Film festivals. It is an inspiring story of the son of a famous street dancer who tries to discover the truth about his father ’ s tragic death 12 years prior. When he joins forces with his father ’ s dance partner, he finds himself embroiled in a bitter rivalry that pushes him to his limit.
We look forward to Tumisho Masha as Mandela in the film Mandela ’ s Gun next year.
It ’ s the first time that a local actor was chosen to portray Nelson Mandela.
Other local films worth
checking out are: Love The One You Love The Jakes Are Missing Necktie Youth