Thabo Khambule’s award-winning feature, Margarine, is an uplifting film about healing, hope and redemption, set against the backdrop of broken families, abuse, alienation and endless cycles of violence.
Margarine is written and directed by Thabo Khambule and marks his feature film directorial debut. The film is executive produced by Carmel Khambule, Thabo Khambule and Kabelo Thathe, produced by Carmel Khambule and Bheki Ncube, and is lensed by Kabelo Thathe.
The film won Best International Film and Best Director at the 2022 Idyllwild International Festival of Cinema and a string of nominations at American Black Film Festival in Miami, last year.
Shortly after shooting his father in cold blood, Mafashion a pubescent gun fiend meets Margarine, an innocent schoolgirl. Her love for him reveals a tenderness he has always harboured, despite believing that boys should be tough and don’t cry.
When Mafashion becomes a father, his life changes and he is forced to look at choose what sort of father he wants to be to his child.
Sadly, there are many young people left behind in our society and Khambule shines a light on these lost children and how, unless our society are prepared to embrace the value of protecting and loving our them, this cycle will never be broken, and many children will become the very monsters who terrorised them.
While not entirely based on a true story, Promises is inspired by an event from Khambule’s youth. “I had a friend who grew up in a broken home,” recalls the Khambule. “Neglected and rejected by his father, he fell in love with guns and became a nightmare for his community. Filled with hate, anger, and hopelessness, he went on a robbing and shooting spree. He blamed his behaviour on the abuse and abandonment he endured at the hands of his uncle and father. At some point, as a teenager, he wanted to kill his father, going so far as to point a loaded 45 Magnum at him and threatening to shoot, but he never pulled the trigger.”
Margarine stars some of South Africa’s brightest young talents, Finito Bullets and Mammy Manhique with Themba Mkhoma (Mirage of Life), Linda Sebezo (Gauteng Maboneng), Yolo Noruwana (Diepcity, uMbali) and Motsoaledi Setumo (Greed and Desire, The Queen).
Margarine is now available on Prime Video.
