Namibian Premiere of the South African film “Otelo Burning”, SAT 31. March 2012, 19h00

 In the framework of the monthly series "African Perspectives" AfricAvenir
on Saturday 31 March at 19h presents the Namibian premiere of the South African film "Otelo Burning", directed and produced by Sara Blecher. Somewhere between City of God and Blue Crush, Otelo Burning is a coming of age story set against the backdrop of Nelson Mandela’s release from prison. It’s an emotional story of kids in the township learning to surf. It’s a story of the explosive potential for change at the time of apartheid’s end – all seen through a child’s eye.

Sara Blecher, 2011, South Africa
Original (IsiZulu) with English subtitles
Starring Jafta Mamabolo, Thomas Gumede, Kenneth Nkosi, Thsepang Mohlomi, Sihle Xaba, Harriet Manamela, Motslatsi Mafatshe, Nolwazi Shange, Hamilton Dhlamini

Date: 31. March 2012, Time: 19h00
Venue: Studio 77, Old Breweries Complex, entrance Garten Str.
Entrance: 30,-N$

AfricAvenir thanks its sponsors and kind supporters of this event: Studio 77, Bank Windhoek Arts Festival, the Franco Namibian Cultural Centre, and WhatsOnWindhoek.n

Mit dem Laden des Videos akzeptieren Sie die Datenschutzerklärung von YouTube.
Mehr erfahren

Video laden

YouTube immer entsperren

About the film
Freedom is another word for nothing left to lose. 
Shot in Durban and directed by Sara Blecher, the film tells the story of a group of township kids who discover the joy of surfing. nIt is 1989 and the struggle against apartheid has reached it’s zenith. When the poor 16 year old township boy Otelo Buthelezi from Lamonville with a deep, traditional fear of the water is offered a chance to escape the violence of his community through surfing, he is forced to choose between friendship and his dream.nWhen Otelo, his best friend, New Year, and his 12 year old brother, Ntwe, are invited to the beach-house of their new friend, Tau Modise, they step into a world previously closed to them. It is exactly the opposite of their township – a place under a constant and growing threat from political violence, driven by Inkatha hostel dwellers on one side and township United Democratic Front comrades on the other. nSoon, everyone recognizes that Otelo is gifted on the water, a god in waiting for his purpose. An older white man, Kurt Struely, approaches the boys, certain of their potential and invites them to his home to watch some professional surfers on video. He paints them an enticing picture of the life to be had, if they can master every kind of break – money for nothing and the chicks for free. nThe boys practice and, under Struely’s watchful eye, become really good. Otelo outshines his teacher, Tau, who begins to resent the obvious natural talent of his friend. His resentment builds even more when Dezi, New Year’s younger sister, falls for Otelo. When Struely enters the boys into their first ‘localism’ competition, Tau persuades his cousin, Stembiso, to look after Ntwe at the township pool where the boys learnt to swim. But while the boys are carving out new paradigms on the water, Tau breaks his prized surfing board and Ntwe is burnt to death with a tire necklace as a suspected informer for the apartheid security police. nWhen Otelo, with New Year’s help, discovers the truth behind his younger brother’s death, he has to make a choice between the money, glamour, girls and superstardom of international surfdom and justice for Ntwe. On the day Nelson Mandela steps out of prison after 27 years, what this boy chooses will resonate for audiences everywhere.

Festivals and Awards
After causing a stir as the opening film of the 2011 Durban International Film Festival, Otelo Burning made its international debut at the 16th annual Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) in Korea. BIFF is Asia’s most prestigious and largest film festival and Otelo Burning was one of very few African film to feature at the festival along with films from Asia, Europe and America. nFollowing its international premiere at BIFF, the film made its U.K premiere at the 55th BFI London International Film Festival in October. nOtelo Burning premiered in the Middle East in December 2011 at the 8th Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF), the leading film festival in the Middle East, Asia and Africa.nOtelo Burning’s director Sara Blecher was awarded the IFP Adrienne Shelly Director’s Grant in New York.nSara Blecher is a former recipient of the CNN African Journalist of the Year Award.