Quirky new comedy ‘Strikdas – ‘n Familie Gedoente’ held its position on the SA Industry Top Ten this past weekend after releasing in SA cinemas and worldwide on www.scatzy.com on 2 April. By the close of business on its second weekend, nearly 70 000 people had seen the film on the big screen locally.
It held onto position number 5 on the Industry Top Ten behind Hollywood blockbusters ‘Fast & Furious 7’, ‘Cinderella’, ‘Home’, and ‘Insurgent’, and remained ahead of another local film, ‘Ballade vir ‘n Enkeling’, which took seventh place on the Top Ten and ‘The Gunman’ which held sixth position.
“We are really thrilled that the public reaction to the film has remained so positive,” says Stefan Enslin, producer of ‘Strikdas – ‘n Familie Gedoente’. “The response on several social media platforms continues to be positive and everyone who has seen it is raving about how much it makes you laugh, especially because you can enjoy the film with the entire family. It’s a delight for us as the filmmakers because we wanted to make a family comedy that would appeal to everyone. I want to encourage those who haven’t seen it yet, to join the 70000 who already have and can’t stop raving about it”
The film opened 37% ahead of the hugely popular ‘Klein Karoo’ (2013) on its opening weekend, and performed between 15% and 35% better on its second weekend at sites like Northridge, Ster Kinekor Centurion & Mimosa Mall (Bloemfontein) as well as NuMetro Woodlands and Menlyn Park in Pretoria, proving once again that there is an ongoing demand for Afrikaans family entertainment.
‘Strikdas – ‘n familie gedoente’ is also the first Afrikaans feature film to be released worldwide simultaneously, in theatres across South Africa, and online to international audiences outside of Africa via the video-on-demand platform Scatzy.com.
“As the local distributor of the film, it’s been exciting to have the unique opportunity to release a film that South Africans across the world can watch at the same time as their families back home are doing so,” says Helen Kuun, CEO, Indigenous Film Distribution. “Given the success of the film to date, we are very keen to see how it performs online.”
The film’s hero Vossie, played by Kaz McFadden (“Knysna”, 2014) falls in love with Willemien, played by Leandie du Randt (“Mooirivier”, 2015), the spoilt daughter of a wealthy wine farm owner. He finds himself having to prove his worth not only to her, but also to her snobbish family. At the same time, he has to fight off Willemien’s two-timing ex, who is not prepared to let her go without a fight.
The soundtrack for the film, produced by Gresham Records, is available from at retail outlets nationwide. It features the title track ‘Met Jou Hart’, written and performed by Johan C Venter, who gained renown as a member of the popular a cappella group Flip a Coin. The music video is on YouTube and the ‘Praat Afrikaans’ Facebook page. A second single titled Klapsoen was recorded by Bouwer Bosch (Dans Lisa and Straatligkinders) and Almarie du Preez.
Produced by Faith in Motion Productions and Philo Pieterse’s Philo Films, the production company behind runaway success ‘Platteland’, ‘Strikdas – ‘n Familie Gedoente ’also stars Albert Maritz, Susanne Beyers, Gys de Villiers, Elsabé Daneel, Sandra Kotzé and Sean-Marco Vorster.
