There’s a wealth of local and lekker South African content coming to Showmax this February, from edge-of-your-seat thrillers to Huisgenoot Tempo and Africa Movie Academy Award winning films. Highlights include:
Pretville (due 08/02)
Named Afrikaans film of the year at the Huisgenoot Tempo Awards, Pretville is a 1950-set musical love story from the team that brought you the record-breaking box office hit Liefling, Die Movie. The film won SAFTAs for Best Production Design (Bathoni Robinson) and Best Make-up (Charlie Runge, Lee-Anne Nourse).
A Small Town Called Descent (due 08/02)
After a young Zimbabwean man is murdered in South Africa, three Scorpions arrive at a small town called Descent to investigate. Set against the backdrop of the 2008 xenophobic attacks, this is the debut film of award-winning South African director Jahmil XT Qubeka (Of Good Report) and stars the likes of SAFTA winners Vusi Kunene (IsiBaya, Soul City), Hlubi Mboya (Dora’s Peace) and Fana Mokoena (The Lab). It won Best Director at the Pan African Film Festival and Best Visual Effects at the Africa Movie Academy Awards from six nominations.
The Borrowers (due 08/02)
The tiny borrowers live beneath the floorboards in harmony with humans, until an evil lawyer takes over the house. Well, he never reckoned on the tiny people fighting back. Starring Golden Globe nominee Stephen Fry (Bones), BAFTA nominees Christopher Eccleston (Doctor Who) and Robert Sheehan (Misfits), and Emmy nominee Sharon Horgan (Catastrophe), The Borrowers was shot in South Africa at Cape Town Film Studios. It’s adapted from Mary Norton’s classic children’s book.
The Forgotten Kingdom (due 12/02)
Atang (Zenzo Ngqobe) returns to a mountain village in Lesotho to bury his father. Expecting to return to the city quickly, he instead befriends an orphan herd-boy, is stirred by memories of his youth, and falls for a childhood friend, Dineo (Nozipho Nkelemba). Winner of 13 international awards, including Best Cinematography, Sound and Child Actor (Lebohang Ntsane) at the Africa Movie Academy Awards.
Die Ontwaking (due 19/02)
Top South African production designer Johnny Breedt (Chronicle, Eye in the Sky, Hotel Rwanda) makes his directorial debut with this dark adaptation of Chris Carsten’s acclaimed novel about a serial killer (Gys de Villiers) who collects tattoos.
Jou Show S8-10 (due 22/02)
Funnyman Emo Adams is back to host this repeat SAFTA nominee for SA’s favourite talk show, bringing with him all the fun and games, not to mention fantastic guests and spellbinding performances.
