(25 Jul 1996) T/I: 10:40:44
9630
Fools / South Africa / June 20 / Ent 4
Black relations find a voice on South African screens
Most of the serious movies on South Africa over the last few years have concentrated on the difficult relationship between the white and black communities, before and after the destruction of the apartheid system. Now a brave new movie, Fools, is being made that will tackle the deep divisions that exist within the country. And it is the divisions and experiences among black people rather than their relationship with the long-hated white man. The story, co-written by first time director Ramadan Suleman, is set in Charterston Township in 1990. Professor Zamani is a well respected member of the community and a former rebel against the apartheid system. The fact that he raped one of his students is
swept under the carpet and forgotten by the township dwellers. Forgotten by all except Zani, brother of the raped girl who returns from a private education in Swaziland seeking revenge. The pair meet up in the waiting room of a Johannesburg railway station before heading on a journey back to the Township that will change both their lives.
SHOWS:
EXT SCHOOL / VARIOUS EXTRAS WAITING / DIRECTOR RAMADAN SULEMAN TALKING TO CAMERAMAN IN CLASSROOM / SOT DIRECTOR RAMADAN SULEMAN, DIRECTOR / SCENE IN CLASSROOM / SOT PATRICK SHAI
/ PRINCIPAL RUNS INTO CLASSROOM WITH GUN / SOT HLOMLA DANDALE / PATRICK SHAI WITH MAKE-UP ARTIST / SCHOOLCHILDREN IN CLASSROOM / SOT PATRICK SHAI / WS SCHOOLROOM
TRANSCRIPT:
SOT RAMADAN SULEMAN: "CRY FREEDOM" WHERE THERE WAS THIS WHOLE WHOLABALOO ABOUT NOT USING SOUTH AFRICAN ACTORS, WHY DID HE USE AN AMERICAN ACTOR? IT WAS DENZEL WASHINGTON WHO PLAYED BIKO AND AGAIN WHY DIDN'T HE DO A FILM ON STEVE BIKO? I THINK ALL THESE
QUESTIONS ARE QUITE ARROGANT IN MY OPINION. AT THAT TIME WE FELT, BEGGIE AND I, WE WERE KINDA LOOKING FOR STORIES ABOUT BLACK SOUTH AFRICANS NOT TO HAVE SOME WHITE PERSON INTRODUCING US TO BLACK SUFFERING, BUT RATHER HAVE BLACK HEROS COMING FROM BLACK COMMUNITIES.
SOT PATRICK SHAI: HE IS A MAN WITH INNER CONFLICTS. THERE ARE LOTS OF CONFLICTS WITHIN HIMSELF AND THE RESOLUTION THAT HE CAN ONLY FIND WITHIN THE COMMUNITY. IF THE COMMUNITY SAYS LOOK YOU ARE FORGIVEN YOU CAN GO BACK AND TEACH AS WE WILL SEE IN THE FILM THE ELDERS WILL SAY LOOK YOU ARE A GOOD MAN YOU'VE GOT TO GO BACK AND TEACH WE NEED TO SEE A SPADE IN YOUR HAND QUITE SOON, BUT HE DOESN'T GET THE SUPPORT FROM EVERYONE WHICH IS QUITE SAD.
HLOMLA DANDALE: THERE IS A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF NARCISSISM WHICH IS MISSING IN SOUTH AFRICAN AUDIENCES. PEOPLE JUST DON'T SEE THEMSELVES ON CINEMA AND I THINK FOR THE FIRST TIME THEY ARE . I THINK THEY ARE GOING TO BE SEEING THEIR OWN STORIES TOLD BY THEMSELVES ON CINEMA.
PATRICK SHAI: WE HAVE TO LEARN TO FORGIVE EACH OTHER BASICALLY. I THINK THAT IS THE BOTTOM LINE. WE HAVE TO LEARN TO SUPPORT EACH OTHER AND UPLIFT EACH OTHER. WE HAVE TO LEARN FROM OUR PAST MISTAKES, THAT WE AS PEOPLE DID AGAINST OURSELVES AS PEOPLE AS A
COMMUNITY WE WERE INVOLVED IN QUITE A LOT OF ATROCIOUS THINGS THAT PEOPLE CAN TALK OF BLACK ON BLACK VIOLENCE BUT THAT SEED CAN ONLY BE PLANTED AMONGST PEOPLE IF PEOPLE ARE READY TO DEVOUR EACH OTHER, KILL EACH OTHER TO DISCARD EACH OTHER. THE LESSON HERE WOULD BE LOOK INTO YOUR SELF AS AN AFRICAN AND LEARN TO FORGIVE YOURSELF AND IF YOU DO THAT THEN YOU CAN DEAL WITH THE REST OF THE WORLD.
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