This week’s choice of new cinema releases in South Africa boils down to ambitious arthouse fantasy from an acclaimed filmmaker, or a South African comedy full of standup talent. Choose wisely!
Three Thousand Years of Longing
You can never have too many Idris Elba movies on circuit at the same time. Joining Beast is fantasy romance drama Three Thousand Years of Longing, from Mad Max filmmaker George Miller. Based on the short story “The Djinn in the Nightingale’s Eye” by A.S. Byatt, the film sees Tilda Swinton’s scholar, content with life, accidentally summoning a Djinn (Elba) who offers her three wishes in exchange for his freedom. Their conversation leads to consequences neither would have expected.
One look at the trailer and you’ll realise that Three Thousand Years of Longing is an arthouse cinema release, high energy, unconventional and unpredictable. It will probably appeal to fans of Everything Everywhere All at Once.
Who’s My Daddy?
Who’s My Daddy? is a raunchy (but still PG-13) South African road trip comedy that packs in the local comedic talent. When weird circumstances bring three losers, comedian Prikesh, journalist Emma, and entertainment agent Alfie, together, they go on a wacky journey from Johannesburg to Durban. Their goal is to find Prikeshʼs long-lost father, and attempt to pull off the DNA heist of the century in their attempt to identify him.
Sans Moonsamy, Nadia Jaftha and Alfred Ntombela play the trio of unlikely, unlucky allies, while loads of South Africa’s top stand-up talent appears in the film.