The Phakalane Story documentary unveiled

GOTHATAONE MOENG
Staff Writer | Wednesday August 31, 2011 00:00

The Magic of Perseverance, a film about prominent businessman and former Cabinet minister David Magang, gets its title from his autobiography of the same name published in 2008.

The Phakalane Story deals with Magang's now celebrated success of he and his wife's Phakalane Golf Estate.  The other films deal with his life as a politician (Politics), his family life (The Family) and his process of writing the book (Penning the Dream.)

The 48-minute Phakalane Story features the Magang family, Magang's wife Dorcas, sons Lesang and Thola as well as daughter Bonang. The film shows the family bond and the collective vision they have for the business (all five are involved in the business on some level).  It also showcases the family value of dreaming big and not giving up despite obstacles. What is also evident from the film is the subtle leadership of the family by Dorcas.  

Other than the testimonies of the family members, the film relies on interviews with people, most of them in the public eyes such as former president Festus Mogae, former Speaker of Parliament Patrick Balopi, prominent lawyer Parks Tafa and former Ombudsman Lithebe Maine. 

Scenes with 'live' footage (as opposed to talking heads), have a scene which may have been shot at the launch of the book, in which Magang discusses his controversial sale of land to Botswana Housing Corporation (BHC), as well as with Magang going about the estate and narrating his journey to business success. Mogorosi directed the film, and co-wrote the screenplay with long-time writing partner and investigative journalist Tshireletso Motlogelwa.Abi Films, Mogorosi's production company, produced the film, with Magang as executive producer.

Speaking at the screening of the film, Mogorosi said the film was not meant to be a reflection of the book exactly as it is, but his own telling of the Magang story.  He said, however, that he was inspired by the book, and by Magang's no-holds barred way of telling his struggles, both in establishing his business, but also in influencing policy while he was still a politician.

The director said he plans to take the films around to film festivals, and hopes to take the entire four-part series through the Botswana Television (Btv). commissioning process so it can eventually air on the national broadcaster.