![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.samdb.co.za\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Stam-TheTree.jpg?resize=550%2C344\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nThe film follows the interlinked lives of five vastly different characters over the course of a few hours in inner city Cape Town, and explores a range connections and relationships that go far beyond familiarity, economics, gender, race or social standing. The city too, with its particular brand of tribalism, decay, magic, gentrification, globalisation and regeneration, plays a central role in the film.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The film is generating a lot of excitement in the industry. A uniquely Afrikaans film, it tells a tale that is unpredictable, and without pretention or political correctness, as it explores the psychological world of a set of characters seeking to belong. Writing for LitNet on the kykNET Silwerskermfees 2020, film reviewer Leon van Nierop called \u2018Stam\u2019 a \u2018wonderful surprise\u2019 that investigates what it means to be Afrikaans across a wide range of communities. He said the film was a courageous investigation of human connection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Beginning on 7 October, KKNK will be hosting a series of free webinars to talk about the issues explored in the film, including the trauma experienced by caregivers, the widespread problem of gender-based violence in South Africa, and the intricate relationship between connection and addiction. On the panel will be Louw Venter, director of \u2018Stam\u2019, cast members Gideon Lombard, Inge Beckman and Jill Levenberg, as well as various medical experts and activists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- 7 Oct \u2013 Caregivers:<\/strong> Ciska Van Straaten (midwife and nurse), Linzi Thomas (children’s rights activist), Catherine Brown (doula)<\/li>
- 8 Oct \u2013 Addiction:<\/strong> Mapanya Sodoni (youth addiction counsellor and coach)<\/li>
- 12 Oct \u2013 GBV<\/strong>: Dr Chiv Gordon (medical educator), Jill Levenberg (actor and cast member), Sherman Pharo (actor)<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Journalist and author Marianne Thamm will moderate the sessions on 8 and 12 October. The webinars are open to anyone who is interested in these discussions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe panel discussion aims to highlight the unspoken traumas inherent in the act of caring for others, from medical practitioners routinely exposed to humans in crisis and pain, to mothers deprived of rest and self-care,\u201d says Venter. \u201cPerhaps these types of conversations can serve as a vital space for expression. We will also look at why gender-based violence is so ubiquitous in South Africa, why we are unable to stop it, and what are we not saying about it that perhaps we should. Another key theme of the film is addiction as a societal and emotional disease. We will delve into the historical parallels between addiction and enforced separation, and interrogate whether meaningful connection is part of the rehabilitation process.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2018Stam\u2019 features a strong ensemble cast, led by Inge Beckmann (\u20188\u2019, \u2018The Dark Tower\u2019, \u2018Troy: Fall of a City\u2019, \u2018Escape Room\u2019), Gideon Lombard (\u2018Suidooster\u2019, \u2018Lien se Lankstaanskoene\u2019, \u2018Black Sails\u2019, \u2018Twee Grade van Moord\u2019), Tarryn Wyngaard (\u2018Tess\u2019, \u2018Noem My Skollie\u2019, \u2019Arendsvlei\u2019) Niza Jay (\u2018Inxeba\u2019, \u2018Validictory\u2019), with supporting performances by Armand Aucamp (\u2018Sterlopers\u2019, \u2018Ballade vir \u2018n Enekling\u2019, \u2018Wat kook by Andre Aucamp\u2019), Nicola Hanekom (\u2018Sinbad\u2019, \u2018Song vir Katryn\u2019, \u2018Isidingo\u2019, \u2018Charlie Jade\u2019, \u2018Fishy Feshuns\u2019, \u2018Shado’s\u2019 and \u2018Heartlines\u2019), Jill Levenberg (\u2018Noem my Skollie\u2019, \u2018Suidooster\u2019, \u2018Rugby Motors\u2019, \u2018Final Verdict\u2019 \u2018Stokvel\u2019, \u2018A Place Called Home\u2019), and Oscar Peterson (\u2018Vloeksteen\u2019, \u2018Die Byl\u2019, \u2018Traffic!\u2019, \u2018Suidooster\u2019, \u2018Die Boland Moorde\u2019, \u2018Swartwater\u2019, \u2018Sara se Geheim\u2019 and \u2018Parlement Parlement\u2019).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2018Stam\u2019 was produced with the support of M-Net, kykNet, the Department of Trade and Industry of South Africa (DTI), the Netherlands Film Fund, the Netherlands Film Production Incentive and the National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Indigenous Film Distribution: www.indigenousfilm.co.za<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
\u2018Stam\u2019 (The Tree), the new film written and directed by Louw Venter and produced by Urucu, will have its theatrical release on DStv\u2019s BoxOffice on 2 October. The film recently won the award for Best South African Film at the Durban International Film Festival (DIFF). The film follows the interlinked lives of five vastly different… Continue reading Louw Venter’s “Stam” (The Tree) Launches On DStv BoxOffice On 2 October<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-10868","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-film","entry"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.samdb.co.za\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10868","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.samdb.co.za\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.samdb.co.za\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.samdb.co.za\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.samdb.co.za\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10868"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.samdb.co.za\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10868\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.samdb.co.za\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10868"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.samdb.co.za\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10868"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.samdb.co.za\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10868"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
- 8 Oct \u2013 Addiction:<\/strong> Mapanya Sodoni (youth addiction counsellor and coach)<\/li>