Hopeville - the movie, to hit the big screen soon

| Wednesday August 4, 2010 00:00

Called Hopeville, and taken from its small screen fore-runner that was screened on SABC 2 last year, it is based on South African moral values and aiming to explore these virtues further in cinematic style.

Hopeville is the uplifting story of Amos Manyani, a recovering alcoholic who moves to a rundown rural town in the hope of eking out a new life with his alienated son Themba.

'Amos's story is about a man trying to pull his life together and win his son back.  It's a journey that will touch many people, as we see somebody trying to put things right,' said Themba Ndaba, who plays the lead.

Faced with a corrupt municipality, dark community secrets and apparent apathy, Amos finds meaning in his mission to restore a derelict public swimming pool.

This is largely a tender bid to also restore the damaged relationship with his son Themba, played by Junior Singo.Themba is an upcoming swimming star, deeply unhappy that he now has to stay with his estranged father after his mother's untimely death.

Amos' 'service' is initially met with scepticism from both Themba and the community.  He is frustrated by resistance from the authorities. But eventually his perseverance inspires the community of Hopeville to act on their conviction.

'All of us have a place that we can fix within ourselves, our families or our communities. That little bit that you can do, do it. It doesn't matter how small. Do something to make a difference,' Ndaba said.  'And watch Hopeville to get some hope!'

The cast is made up of many established South African movie and television stars. They have added their voices to the call for a value-based South African society. The two-faced mayor of Hopeville is played by Desmond Dube, with Terry Pheto (of Tsotsi fame) as his illegal immigrant mistress. The Lab's Fana Mokoena is a corrupt cop, and the town's misunderstood 'racist' is played by Paul Luckhoff, who featured in Stander and Triomf.

Jody Abrahams, Leleti Khumalo, Mary Twala are also featured.

The movie was shot mainly in picturesque Mpumalanga.

This series has been nominated in the category of drama and mini-series of the prestigious Rose d'Or Global Television Festival Awards.

The winners will be announced in Lucerne, Switzerland, in September. (sowetan.co.za)