German Premiere: “Of Good Report” with Director Jahmil XT Qubeka in Attendance, Sunday, 30 March 2014, 17h30, Hackesche Höfe Kino
On Sunday, 30 March 2014 at 17:30 AfricAvenir invites you to the German Premiere of the banned and now unbanned South African thriller and awarded opening film of the Durban Film Festival „Of Good Report“ (Xhosa/Sotho/English with English Subtitles) at Hackesche Höfe Kino, with South African Director Jahmil XT Qubeka in attendance. Hailed as “South Africa’s Hitchcock”, filmmaker Jahmil XT Qubeka helms his own original screenplay, “Of Good Report”, a hard-hitting and evocative narrative about a schoolteacher, and social misfit, whose illicit affair with one of his pupils spirals into an abyss of obsession and shameful lust.
“Stylish and surreal … an edge-of-the-seat thriller.” The Guardian
“the most intriguing, surprising and intelligent pieces of cinema to come out of South Africa in decades.” Times Live: :
The screening will be followed by an open discussion with director Jahmil XT Qubeka and by a small reception in the cinema foyer.
With the financial support South African Airways, Brot für die Welt – Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst, Humboldt Universität, Rosa-Luxemburg-Foundation and in co-operation with Africiné, SEV Magazin, Club der Freunde von RFI, Berlin Poche, rendez-vous-cine.de, Exberliner, radio multicult.fm, Art Labour Archives, Initiative Schwarze Menschen in Deutschland (ISD), Berlinda, Zentrum Moderner Orient, |+| Contemporary & and Planète Métis.
Age restricted: 18 years and older!
Synopsis
Introverted and seemingly gentle high school teacher Parker Sithole has a quiet passion for literature and is presented to a new school as a man "of good report". In a local bar Parker meets a mesmerizing young woman and falls for her – but the next day she walks into his classroom and he realizes that the blossoming love which has brought joy into his world is forbidden. Parker develops and obsession with his vivacious pupil and she returns his affections until their love story reaches a tragic end. The film is an intense and profoundly executed thriller following this deeply disturbed teacher who is externally "of good report" and yet hiding a grisly murder which preys on his mind as a local policewoman hunts him, coming closer and closer to the awful truth…n
Press Reviews
“… a psycho romance… superbly exciting… a fine, assured thrilling, and complicated piece of South African cinema.. Turn away if you’re squeamish about details.” Kavish Chetty, Mahala
“Rather it’s one of the most intriguing, surprising and intelligent pieces of cinema to come out of South Africa in decades. Of Good Report shines a ray of hopeful light for filmmakers who feel trapped by the belief that the only way to make films is to conform to the standards and interference of those who hold the purse strings.” Times Live
“Set in a rural town that reeks of the economically precarious working poor’s despair, “Of Good Report” dives into the rarely visited moral worlds of these impoverished communities, burrowing into their dark recesses and exploring their complex social webs. In this forgotten place, a place rife with vice, greed, loneliness, and the fear of sinking further into poverty, a man can get away with anything — including a gruesome murder. TIFF
"What makes Of Good Report a brilliant film is not only the fact that Qubeka pushed it to unimaginable height with his directorial prowess but also that he managed to address numerous issues that plague many African countries." Faith Haushona-Kavamba, Windhoek Observer
Director: Jahmil XT Qubeka
Award-Winning Filmmaker and Screenwriter Jahmil X.T. Qubeka has a decade long career spanning an entire spectrum of filmmaking disciplines. Most notably, his documentary and feature film work has enjoyed screenings at various prestigious international film festivals including Rotterdam Film Festival, Pusan International Film Festival (Korea), Dubai Film Festival, Los Angeles Pan African Film Festival, Open Doek (Warsaw), Stolkholm Film Festival amongst others. In 2005 an Aids documentary he directed for Sesame Street won the prestigious Peabody Award in America for best actuality programing. Jahmil was the official guest of the French Institute at the 2006 Cannes Film Festival‘ Marche Du Film. At the event he screened an esoteric martial arts fantasy film he co-wrote and co-directed, (Shogun Khumalo is Dying! Official Selection DIFF 2006). In 2007 he produced and co-wrote the low -budget feature film, uMalusi (official Selection DIFF 2008). The film was released theatrically in South Africa by the Ster-Kinekor group.nOther Documentary titles include: ‘Reporting Live from The Concrete Jungle’ – 2000, ‘Intifada Comes to WSSD’- 2001, ‘Qula Kwedini: A Rite of Passage’ – 2002, ‘The Italian Co-Production, Zulu Meets Jazz – 2005. He also directed episodes of various television Drama series, including Mtunzini. Com as well as the South African hit youth soapie, Tshisa 2.
In 2009 Jahmil made his feature film directorial debut with the stylish noirs, A Small Town Called Descent. Also written and shot by him, the ‚detective‘ drama features a plethora of South Africa‘ top acting talent including the likes of Fana Mokoena (Hotel Rwanda) and Vusi Kunene (Cry The Beloved Country). The ensemble cast also includes veteran Hollywood character actor, John Savage (The Deer Hunter, Salvador). The film recently won the Programmer‘ Award for Best Narrative Feature at the Pan African Film Festival in Los Angeles 2012. Jahmil has also been a feature film jury member at two prestigious film festivals, namely the Durban International Film Festival in Durban as well as the Cairo International Children’s Film Festival. A dedicated advocate of African Filmmaking, Jahmil continues to make independent and engaging work.
Further reading
Controversial "Of Good Report" opening film for Windhoek’s AfricAvenir series, 24.12.2013, by Hans-Christian Mahnke, http://www.africine.org/?menu=art&no=11948Reopening the debate about censorship, art and its value for society, 30.07.2013, by Hans-Christian Mahnke, http://www.africine.org/?menu=art&no=11723
Awards/Selections
(Banned) Opening Film, Durban International Film Festival, 2013
“Artistic Bravery” award, newly created award in honour of Qubeka’s film, at Durban International Film Festival, 2013
Opening Film and Winner Best Film, 3rd Africa International Film Festival, Calabar, Nigeria, 2013
Opening Film, Pan African Film Festival, Los Angeles, USA, 2014
Official Competition, 57th BFI London Film Festival, 2013
Chicago International Film Festival, 2013
Toronto International Film Festival, 2013
Dubai International Film Festival, 2013
Stockholm International Film Festival, 2013
German Premiere
Of Good Report
Jahmil XT Qubeka, South Africa, 2013, Xhosa, Sotho, English with English Subtitles, 109 min
With: Mothusi Magano, Petronella Tshuma, Thobi Mkhwanazi, Nomhlé Nkyonyeni
Produced by: Michael Auret and Luzuko Dilima
Sunday, 30 March 2014
17h30
Entrance: 7,50 Euro
Discount: Berlin Pass, Gilde Pass, Heavy User Card, 5/10 Tickets Cards can be used by two people
Tickets & Information
030/ 283 4603
Hackesche Höfe Kino
Rosenthalerstr. 40/41
10187 Berlin
S Hackescher Markt
U Weinmeisterstraße
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