Umbango

November 17, 2014November 24, 2014 / The Starlit Path / Leave a comment

KEY CREW & CAST

Director	Tonie Van Der Merwe	Cast	Innocent “Popo” Gumede
Producer	Steve Hand		Kay Magubane
Writer	Pat Johnston		Hector Mathanda
DOP	Tonie Van Der Merwe		Dumisani Shongwe
Editor	N/A		Vincent Velekazi
Sound	Edwin Knopf		Vusi Gudazi
Y.O.P	approx. 1986		Fikile Majozi
Running Time	70 min		Mac Mkhwanazi
Language	isiZulu		Emmanuel Shangase
Genre	Western

SYNOPSIS

When Kay Kay, a powerful, ruthless businessman sets out on a mission of revenge against two men accused of killing his brother, he strong-arms the local sheriff into forming a posse of thugs to aid in his vendetta.

But when Jet and Owen, the two easy going friends, learn of the gang out for their blood, they prepare to stand their ground and fight back.

It all comes to a head in a final gun-fight, a showdown in the small western town where blood will have to be spilt if the friends wish to come out of this alive.

Zero for Zep

November 17, 2014November 24, 2014 / The Starlit Path / Leave a comment

KEY CREW & CAST

Director	Steve Hand / Laurens Barnard	Cast	So Mhlanga
Producer	Tugela Films		Khulekani Magubane
Writer	Carl Bleakley		Gugu Mhlanga
DOP	Laurens Barnard		Tim Mtshali
Editor	N/A		Jabulani Lthuli
Sound	Foxy Hand		Richard Manqele
Y.O.P	1980’s		Innocent “Popo” Gumede
Running Time	66 min		Wilson Phala
Language	isiZulu		Thembi Sambo
Genre	Crime / Drama		Winnie Mkhize

SYNOPSIS

When Zep dumps his pregnant teenage girlfriend, and later discovers she committed suicide as a result of this, he acts out. Angry and confused, he undertakes a childish crime spree in order to deal with what has happened.

Things quickly spiral out of control and soon the police are hot on his tail.

In a daring final escape, the young man comes to see the error of his ways and decides to face the consequences of his actions like a man.

Framegrabs of “Trompie”

October 20, 2014October 21, 2014 / The Starlit Path / 2 Comments

Here are some delightful framegrabs from our 1975 restored Afrikaans film “Trompie”

+ The original 1975 feature film is about the young Trompie and the misadventures he and his gang of friends embark upon, based on the books by Topsy Smith. Together with his mates Rooie, Blikkies and little Dawie, the young boys embark on a series of naughty things that often land them in hot soup with the townsfolk of their hometown of Kwaggaberg

+ Trompie is a freckle-faced eleven-year-old boy and the “Big Chief” of the “Boksom Gang”

+ Their cajoling with the Reverend’s pet baboon gets completely out of hand and Trompie’s innocent attempts at fixing his sister, Anna, up with a boyfriend goes terribly wrong

+ Not only does Trompie and his gang of friends almost ruin the annual school concert, but their shenanigans leads to a bet that Trompie will be able to crash the show and appear on stage that evening

+ Throughout all these misadventures, Trompie befriends a playful mongrel who belongs to an old man about to leave the town

+ As the story comes to a close, Trompie will have to watch on as the mangy dog has to choose between staying with the impish young boy and leaving with its old master

Silwerskerm Film Festival Screens “Trompie”

September 17, 2014October 20, 2014 / Retro Afrika Bioscope / 3 Comments

The Silwerskerm Film Festival is an annual gathering for mostly Afrikaans filmmakers. It’s a 4-day marathon which showcases the best new South African films at the kykNET Silwerskermfees. The festival is predominantly Afrikaans, but English stand-outs like the Durban International Film Festival award-winning “Durban Poison” was also screened.

In addition to the feature films, the end results of a competition that develops script ideas from first-time filmmakers of all ages were screened. This isn’t just a film festival that showcases the best of the best. It nurtures new talent and gives it a valuable platform.

One of our more recently restored films, “Trompie”, was also screened at the venue. Directed by legendary Tonie van der Merwe in the 70’s, about 15-30 people in the room watched as a digitally remastered version of a South African classic was screened. “Trompie” is a compact, highly enjoyable and kinetic comedy feature.

“Trompie” also has some well-crafted English subtitles for non-Afrikaans audience.

Isiboshwa

April 25, 2014November 24, 2014 / The Starlit Path / 1 Comment

This 70 minute adventure film was shot in 1989. Produced by Steve Hand and Directed by Tonie vd Merwe, it stars Sizwe Dlamini, Popo Gumede and Hector Mathanda. Catch it on SABC1 this Sunday at 8:30pm as part of the Mayibuye Film Festival!

TAGLINE

While on a camping trip, three teenage brothers go from being the hunted to the hunters in an effort to snare and catch a dangerous thief.

SYNOPSIS

The summer holidays finally arrive, and the three teenage brothers head out into the wilderness for a camping trip together. Their days are spent fishing, swimming and relaxing by their small tent on the banks of the river.

But unbeknownst to the boys, they are being watched. When things start going missing from their camp, and other strange events begin to occur, the three brothers begin to worry, unsure and unaware of who or what is stalking them.

Eventually they manage to discover what is really happening, and together they set out on a path fraught with danger, action and drama in order to bring the culprit to justice.

DIGITALLY REMASTERED BY:

Treasure Hunters

April 24, 2014November 24, 2014 / The Starlit Path / 3 Comments

“Treasure Hunters” (also known as “Ukuzingala”) was shot on 16mm in 1989 and is 75 minutes long. This adventure film was produced by Oubaas Olivier and directed by Tonie vd Merwe. Starring Gugo Mhlangu, Innocent Gumende, Jabu Luthuli and Victor Nklago, catch it on SABC 1 this Sunday night at 8:30pm!

TAGLINE

After hearing a tale of a mysterious lost treasure, an old man’s family heads off on a perilous journey only to suffer the same fate as the shipwrecked survivors from sixty years ago.

SYNOPSIS

A young Zulu boy secretly watches as four shipwrecked survivors struggle ashore. Between them they carry a large chest of treasure.

The four survivors struggle off, heading inland, closely guarding the chest they carry with them. The young boy follows, keeping to the shadows, watching as one by one the survivors succumb to the treacherous journey, finally leaving only the treasure chest behind.

Sixty years later, the young boy now an old man, retells the story of the shipwrecked survivors and the mysterious treasure chest to his descendants. Deciding to retrace the trail in the hopes of finding the lost treasure, the old man’s family head off on the treacherous adventure. But tragedy strikes, only for them to suffer the same fate as the survivors so many years before them.

Bona Manzi

April 21, 2014November 24, 2014 / The Starlit Path / Leave a comment

Starring Sipho Menyeni, Martin Potgieter, John Mtsali and Sithembiso Fusa, this 70 minute action film was shot in 1989. It was produced by Oubaas Olivier and directed by Tonie vd Merwe.

TAGLINE

A game ranger and his chief ranger set out on a daring rescue mission when his two nephews are kidnapped by dangerous poachers deep in the African bush.

SYNOPSIS

Two young brothers travel out to the countryside to visit with their game ranger uncle during their school holidays.

It is here on the ranch, under their uncle’s teachings, that they learn about the beauties of the African bush and the wildlife living there.

One morning the two boys head out alone into the wilderness to go explore and accidentally stumble across a group of poachers. The boys are kidnapped and it is left to the uncle and the Chief Ranger to set out on a daring and dangerous rescue mission to save the children and apprehend the poachers.

Joe Bullet

April 16, 2014November 24, 2014 / The Starlit Path / 2 Comments

Made in 1971, this action film directed by Louis de Wit and produced by Tonie vd Merwe was shot on 16mm in Johannesburg. Banned in South Africa by the government when it originally came out, it stars Ken Gampu, Abigail Kubeka, Jimmy Sabie and Joe Lopez.

TAGLINE

In the criminal underworld of soccer, one man will have to save the championship!

SYNOPSIS

When local soccer team The Eagles fall prey to a series of onslaughts from a mysterious gangster only a week before the championship final, the team turns to the one man that can help save their chances at victory – Joe Bullet (Ken Gampu).

Joe will have to battle against villainous henchmen, escape booby-trap bombs and bring his martial arts expertise to the fore in order to survive an attack from a deadly assassin.

In the end he will have to infiltrate the mysterious gangster’s hide-out in a dangerous cat-and-mouse rescue mission to save not only The Eagles’ two kidnapped star players, but that of his beautiful love interest, Beauty (Abigail Kubeka).

The odds will be stacked against him, but he’s the man that fights crime, the man that no one can tie down! Joe Bullet!

Ezintandaneni

April 11, 2014November 24, 2014 / The Starlit Path / 3 Comments

Produced in 1987, this 70 minute drama was directed by Tonie vd Merwe and produced by Oubaas Olivier. The cast includes Sizwe Dlamini, Popo Gumede & Gugu Mhlanga. Be sure to watch it this Sunday night on SABC1!

TAGLINE

A moving tale involving two orphans, a widower and a beautiful social worker, and how their lives all come together at the end.

SYNOPSIS

A touching story of two families – one poor, and the other rich. A young boy and his sister, raised by their cruel and vicious stepmother, live poor and difficult lives. Beaten and starved by their stepmom, the two children only have one another for comfort
and support. Meanwhile a prominent business man, and single father, has brought his mother to stay with him to help care for his ailing daughter. A beautiful Social Worker enters the scene and befriends the two abused children, and when the wealthy business man’s daughter sadly passes away, a series of events begin to unfold, entwining these people’s fates and bringing all them all together at the end.

Ambushed

April 11, 2014November 24, 2014 / The Starlit Path / 2 Comments

Filmed in 1988 on 16mm, this 70 minute action film will keep you on your toes! Directed by Tonie vd Merwe and produced by Oubaas Olivier, the cast includes Hector Mathanda, Popo Gumede, Kay Magubane & Ngebo Zungo. Catch it on Sunday night at 8:30pm on SABC1

TAGLINE:

A young Game Ranger will have to track a dangerous group of army deserters in a desperate attempt to rescue his kidnapped wife and son.

SYNOPSIS:

A young Game Ranger lives with his wife and son a large game farm bordering a neighbouring country.

Early one morning, only a few kilometres away, a gang of army deserters cross the border to loot, steal and poach whatever they can find. As the Ranger bids his family farewell and heads out on patrol, his son leaves for school.

While on his way, the young boy has a run-in with one of the deserters. He manages to escape, or so he thinks, and flees back home. The boy informs his mother of the events, and together they try to reach the Ranger via radio. But the deserters have followed the boy home.

Mother and son are kidnapped and the gang of deserters head back across the border. The father, calling in his Assistant Ranger, tracks the gang through the treacherous landscape back to their hidden base. The odds are stacked against him, but it is here that he launches a desperate attack on the hide-out in an effort to defeat the gang and rescue his wife and son.