A group of young artists decided to put their heads together and produce a local film. Encountering many challenges, their ambition kept them going and the result is an interesting film called Thobela (obey) which deals with issues around taxi wars, loan sharks, poverty, sexual inequality and self identity.
A group of young artists decided to put their heads together and produce a local film. Encountering many challenges, their ambition kept them going and the result is an interesting film called Thobela (obey) which deals with issues around taxi wars, loan sharks, poverty, sexual inequality and self identity.
Director Luzuko Yafelo plays the character of Thobela whose is dream is shattered when he is falsely accused of murder. His tertiary fees have been paid by Bra Slovo (Thandizile Madunda) a taxi driver. Thobela spends a period of two years in jail and when he gets out he pretends to be a wealthy .
He falls in love with Nobuthle (portrayed by Thadiswa Tsili) a powerful woman in the corperate world. She falls pregnant with his child but has no idea that he lives in a shack and is dirt poor. This leads to a lot of drama as his secret is soon discovered.Thisile describes the film as being about “people would do anything to get money” and how this doesn’t bode well.
Thobela wanted a rich sugar mama in order to feel important again. “We need to be true to who we are, you do not need to pretend to be someone else to get what you what in life” says Yafelo, who directed wrote and acted in the film.
Thobela places local artists on the map and is very encouraging for the growth of the film industry in South Africa. What is depicted in this film is not your average giltz and glamour but real life issues surrounding our communities in contemporary times. What’s more, the actors all contributed in raising money for the production.
The 30 minute film was recorded in the streets of Grahamstown and the dialogue is in English and isiXhosa which gives it a broad appeal. Thobela is showing at Nombulelo Hall on Saturday at 10.30am.
