AFDA: The new solution to Botswana film
Spira Tlhankane | Wednesday June 8, 2016 16:06
The four short films, Zola My Beginnings, Gatwe E Rile, Raskanta and Sebonta, were shown to a sold-out audience at Riverwalk. The first movie lined-up for the screening was Zola My Beginnings and it was a perfect fit for the opening to keep the audience hooked for the next film.
The opening soundtrack of the film introduced viewers to the busy streets of Old Naledi in Gaborone. The thief chase scene at the beginning showed that we are in the notorious township of Zola as it is popularly known. The lead character, Moeti lives a double life as a criminal and a family man. Tsholo loves Moeti despite everything and she covers up for him after the latter is arrested in connection with a robbery incident. However, Moeti’s gangster life gets in the way of his family life and he is unable to perform his duties as a father to his child. Moeti’s friends are a bad influence and they lead him astray while his girlfriend Tsholo tries by all means to show him the right path.
The script was relevant and humorous. Moeti’s lines like ‘since when o skima dicharmaboy tsa dikitchen tsa diraese’ and ‘Ke legodu Tsholo, ke tla swa kele legodu’ were appealing. The robbery scene in Phakalane was able to express chaos and show the unruly behaviour of township criminals.
The Splash soundtrack also helped introduce the scene at the beer depot in typical fashion.Guys sharing quarts of beer and pulling out knives revealed so much about the place.
The extreme close-up shots of the gangsters at the Police interrogation room helped to tell the story better.
The producer of the film, Tshepo Makgasa told Showbiz that the good thing about Zola My Beginnings is that they were able to cast actors who have a past criminal life and it was easy to work with them because they understood the life.
Another story entitled Gatwe E Rile was inspired by old Setswana folktales known as Mainane in Setswana. It was based on the old tale of Ntiti and Ntitietsana. Despite the title, the film introduces the audience to the city life and lights of Gaborone. The aerial view of CBD at night brings a familiar atmosphere for those living in the city. The film pivoted on a reckless young woman called Marang (Lorato Keatlaretse) who leads a life of clubbing and binge drinking. Marang’s sister is hit by a car while trying to pick her up from the club and the atmosphere switches to a hospital environment of sorrow and regret.
The directors of the film were then able to get across their main theme at the hospital when Marang recalls a nighttime story moment in the past with their grandmother. The plot flashes back to the scene by the fire where granny is narrating the old tale to her granddaughters. The plot then swiftly changes to a medieval Botswana with teenage girls wearing makgabe on an errand to collect firewood, one of occupations by nubile young girls in the olden days.
For those who know the story, it is a very difficult tale to get across on film, but the crew managed to reminisce scenes with the greedy giant and Mmadimo. Film director, Gosego Kutile says she is glad they were able to switch the city mood to an old bedtime story.
“It was inspired by oral tradition and we wanted to combine the pre-modern and modern Botswana. It was ambitious, but we were able to overcome challenges,” she said.
Overall, all productions were too good for final year students. This was demonstrated by a highly receptive audience at New Capitol Cinemas who gave a standing ovation.