Local Action Film “Indemnity” Praised Internationally

A seemingly average man with a lethal set of skills finds himself on the run in INDEMNITY, a subversive, edge-of-your-seat local action film, produced in South Africa, but on a level that South Africa’s never seen before!

The film, which had its overseas premiere at the Fantasia International Film Festival in Canada last year and already released in the USA earlier this year, premiered in South Africa at the 10th annual kykNET Silwerskermfees, where the film received 12 nominations. The film will release in South Africa on 13 May 2022.

The praises from international media poured in after its international release earlier this year:

  • “A great deal of fun”. – The New York Times
  • “A stylish, high-stakes thriller laced with eroticism and subterfuge”. – Los Angeles Times
  • “Beefed up with punchy action and suitably incendiary special effects”. – Screen International
  • “Travis Taute’s debut feature impresses with its slick, nimble action sequences”. – Variety

South African best-selling author, film critic and award-winning lecturer, Leon van Nierop thoroughly enjoyed the film and said the following: “It is the bravest, best and most balanced South African action film ever to be made.”

South African writer-director Travis Taute’s debut feature INDEMNITY tells the story of Theo Abrahams (Jarrid Geduld), an ex-fireman suffering from severe Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) who, unable to return to work, turns to alcohol.

Becoming increasingly frustrated and volatile, Theo’s world is rocked when his journalist wife Angela (Nicole Fortuin) is murdered – and he is the prime suspect. He soon finds himself on the run from the police for a murder he is positive he didn’t commit. But was he framed? Or did one of his violent nightmares cause him to do something he didn’t mean to do?

As he is hunted by Deputy Chief Alan Shard (Andre Jacobs) and Detective Rene Williamson (Gail Mabalane), connections are revealed between his past, the origin of his PTSD, the murder of his wife, and a government conspiracy with chilling implications.

INDEMNITY is an intense and impressive film which moves from one thrilling action set to the next as Theo literally fights for his life. Geduld gives a terrific performance, making Theo believably flawed and human.

“I wanted to make an action film, and I was very fortunate that my producers bought into that vision and ambition,” explains Taute. “However, I wanted to combine that with a film that had a heart that was driven by a character. A story about a man who has this trauma and then weaves in the action sequences to his emotional journey.”

Whether staging fights in the close confines of an elevator or a spacious abandoned factory, Taute – co-writer of Nosipho Dumisa’s award-winning Number 37 and the Netflix series Blood & Water – knows how to grab viewers’ attention. Favouring real stunts over CGI, he truly put the team through their paces with some serious challenges.

Geduld does all his own stunts; a mission he prepared for by spending three months training with stunt masters Vernon Willemse and Grant Powell (Fury Road, Tomb Raider). The SAFTA-award winner’s confident physical performance contributes to his character.

PTSD is at the heart of the story and on extensively exploring this issue in the film, the writer-director says: “When it comes to issues regarding mental health, there is such a terrible stigma attached to it. It’s considered weak. This inability for men to converse in a constructive way about not being well emotionally and psychologically and being supported in that conversation. This is an important and powerful issue and I wanted to speak about it in his film.”

INDEMNITY is a paranoid conspiracy thriller beefed up with punchy action and confirms Taute’s talent as an action director. “In South Africa there has been a limit to the kinds of films we can produce. We wanted to do something that could stand up with all the rest of the international titles; something to move the needle in terms of the perception of what kinds of films can come out of South Africa. The process was amazing, and I can’t wait for the next one,” concludes Taute.

INDEMNITY was produced by Gambit Films, in association with M-Net Films, Marche Media, National Film and Video Foundation and the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition.

It is locally distributed by Filmfinity Pty (Ltd.) and will be released in South African cinemas on 13 May 2022.


Aksieblaaide Plaaslike Riller Word Uitstekend Oorsee Ontvang

’n Oënskynlike doodgewone man, met ’n dodelike stel vaardighede, is ’n voortvlugtige in INDEMNITY – ’n spanningsvolle plaaslike riller, wat op internasionale vlak vervaardig is!   

Dié rolprent wat verlede jaar oorsee bekendgestel is by die Fantasia Internasionale Rolprentfees in Kanada en reeds in die VSA draai, is tydens die tiende jaarlikse kykNET Silwerskermfees aan plaaslike gehore vrygestel en het met tien benoemings weggestap. Dit sal op 13 Mei in plaaslike teaters te sien wees.  

Oorsee het die fliek baie goeie resensies ontvang:

  • Hope pret”. – The New York Times
  • “’n Stylvolle riller, vol erotiek en bedrog.” – Los Angeles Times 
  • “’n Puik aksiebelaaide rolprent, wat ondersteun word deur genoeg spesiale effekte.” – Screen International 
  • Travis Taute se debuut-prent beïndruk met vinnige, soomlose aksietonele.” – Veriety 

Die Suid-Afrikaanse bekroonde skrywer, rolprentresensent en dosent, Leon van Nierop, het die film terdeë geniet en die volgende gesê: “Dit is die beste, mees gewaagde en gebalanseerde Suid-Afrikaanse aksierolprent wat nog ooit gemaak is.”

Travis Taute, die Suid-Afrikaanse draaiboekskrywer en regisseur, maak sy debuut met INDEMNITY wat die verhaal vertel van Theo Abrahams (Jarrid Geduld), ’n voormalige brandweerman wat aan Posttraumatiese stresversteuring (PTSV) ly, wat homself aan drank oorgee omdat hy nie kan teruggaan werk toe nie. 

Theo se wêreld word op sy kop gedraai wanneer sy vrou en joernalis, Angela (Nicole Fortuin), vermoor word en hy die hoof-verdagte is. Dit dwing om hom om van die polisie te vlug, aangesien hy oortuig is dat hy onskuldig is. Maar het iemand bewyse geplant, of het een van sy gewelddadige nagmerries hom iets laat doen wat hy nie moes nie?

Soos wat die saak ondersoek word deur adjunk-hoof, Alan Shard (Andre Jacobs), en speurder, Rene Williamson (Gail Mabalane), word onthullings gemaak oor sy verlede, wat sy PTSV veroorsaak het, wat met sy vrou gebeur het en ’n regeringsameswering met drastiese gevolge.

INDEMNITY is ’n intense en indrukwekkende rolprent, wat van een opwindende aksietoneel na die volgende vloei, terwyl Theo letterlik vir sy lewe veg. Geduld kwyt hom skitterend van sy taak om Theo eg as moontlik te vertolk en sy foute ten toon te stel.

Ek wou ’n aksieprent maak en was gelukkig genoeg dat die vervaardigers hierdie visie en idee ondersteun het,”verduidelik Taute. “Dit was egter belangrik dat die hart van die fliek karaktergedrewe moes wees. ’n Storie van ’n man met trauma wie se emosies, tussendeur aksietonele, na die oppervlak gebring word.”

Of dit nou vegtonele in ’n beknopte huisbak of in ’n verlate fabriek is, kon Taute (mede-skrywer van Nosipho Dumisa se bekroonde Nommer 37 en die Netflix-reeks Blood & Water) dit regkry om kykers se aandag te hou. Aangesien hy ook regte vegtonele bo rekenaarmanupilasie verkies, het hy die span uitgedaag om hulle beste te gee.

Geduld doen sy eie vegtonele; iets waarvoor hy drie maande opleiding by Vernon Willemse en Grant Powell (Fury RoadTomb Raider) moes ontvang het, en sy fisiese vertoning het beslis bygedra om sy karakter nog meer interessant te maak.

PTSV is een van die kern-elemente van die storie en oor die intense manier waarop dit in dié rolprent ondersoek word, sê die skrywer-regisseur: “Daar is ’n vreeslike stigma verbonde aan geestesgesondheid. Dit word as swakheid beskou. Baie mans is nie in staat om op ’n konstruktiewe  manier oor emosionele en sielkundige gesondheid te praat nie en dit is dié belangrike kwessie wat ek in die film wou aanspreek.”

INDEMNITY is ’n paranoïese samesweringsriller wat gekomplementeer word deur opwindende aksietonele en Taute se talent as aksieregisseur bevestig. “In Suid-Afrika was daar ’n beperking op die soort films wat ons kan vervaardig. Ons wou iets doen wat met internasionale titels kan vergelyk; iets wat aandui dat ons land die potensiaal het om ’n wye verskeidenheid films te vervaardig. Die proses was ongelooflik, en ek kan nie wag vir die volgende een nie,”sluit Taute af.

INDEMNITY is deur Gambit Films vervaardig, in samewerking met M-Net Films, Marche Media, Die Nasionale Rolprent- en Videostigting en Die Departement van Handel, Nywerheid en Mededinging.

Dit word plaaslik versprei deur Filmfinity Edms (Bpk.) en sal op 13 Mei 2022 in plaaslike bioskope te sien wees.

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By Andrew Germishuys

Founder of SAMDB | Actor | Armourer | Tech Enthusiast With over two decades in the film industry, I'm a seasoned actor and skilled armourer. I hold numerous certifications in acting and filmmaking, complemented by degrees and diplomas in IT and technology, giving me a unique blend of creative and technical expertise. When I'm not on set or in the workshop, you'll find me immersed in the world of gaming and VR, fuelling my passion for cutting-edge technology. Connect with me: X / Twitter Facebook Instagram Mastodon Threads Explore my work on SAMDB IMDb