7 of the best local hits to stream now

29 April, 2019 - 06:04

After being nominated for an International Emmy for two years in a row for her work on IsThunzi, South African actress Thuso Mbedu made headlines this month when she was cast as the lead in The Underground Railroad, an adaptation of Colson Whiteheads Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, to be directed by Oscar winner Barry Jenkins (Moonlight, If Beale Street Could Talk).

With so many South Africans breaking through on the international stage, weve put together a catch-up guide to the best of whats come onto Showmax this April, from festival-favourite films like High Fantasy and Meerkat Maantuig to award-winning documentaries like Everything Must Fall and The Funs Not Over to weekly express episodes of SAFTA-winning series like Lockdown and Isithembiso to the Silwerskerm-winning short film Axis Mundi.

Everything Must Fall

Premise:

An unflinching look at the #FeesMustFall student movement that burst onto the South African political landscape in 2015 as a protest over the cost of education. The story is told by four student leaders at Wits University and their Vice Chancellor, Adam Habib, a left-wing, former anti-apartheid student activist. When Habibs efforts to contain the protest fail, he brings 1 000 police onto campus, with dire consequences for the young leaders...

Why you should watch:

1. Its directed by Rehad Desai, who won the International Emmy Award for Best Documentary for Miners Shot Down, about the Marikana massacre

2. #feesmustfall was a pivotal moment for South Africa; as we approach our national elections, its the perfect time to revisit the questions the movement raised about our priorities as a nation

3. Vuyani Phambo and Fasiha Hassan, who both feature prominently in the film, are on the parliamentary election lists for The Economic Freedom Fighters and ANC respectively

4. In May, Everything Must Fall is one of six productions representing South Africa at INPUT in Bangkok, an annual showcase of the best storytelling in the public interest

Accolades:

:: Vaclav Havel Award, One World Human Rights Documentary Film Festival, 2019

:: Best Documentary & Best Documentary Director, South African Film and Television Awards, 2019

:: Best South African Documentary, Cape Town International Film Market and Festival, 2018

Trailer:

https://youtu.be/OpGYyCLb9xQ

High Fantasy

Premise:

Four young friends on a camping trip in the Northern Cape wake up to discover theyve all swapped bodies.

Why you should watch:

1. Despite being shot on an iPhone 7, the body-swap satire screened at some of the biggest film festivals in the world, including AFI, Berlin and Toronto

2. High Fantasy is the second film from Jenna Bass, one of South Africas most exciting directors, whose first, Love The One You Love, won Best Direction at Durban International Film Festival in 2014, and whose third, Flatland, opened the Panorama section at Berlin this year. Jenna also co-wrote Rafiki, the multi-award-winning Kenyan love story that wowed Cannes last year

3. Setting a body-swap satire in South Africa raises a host of intersectional identity politics issues, so the film will give you lots to talk about...

Accolades:

:: Best South African Feature, Durban International Film Festival, 2018

:: Artistic Bravery Prize, Durban International Film Festival, 2018

Trailer:

https://youtu.be/S0d_NwEmZ0s

Meerkat Maantuig

Premise:

After her fathers sudden death, Gideonette de la Rey descends into darkness as she realises that shes the only one left with a cursed family name. With the help of her new friend Bhubesi and his make-shift moonship, shell have to find the inner strength to face her fears in order to break the curse.

Why you should watch:

1. Sakkie Bergh, who edited many of Die Antwoords music videos, recently picked this as his favourite African film on Africa.film, calling it sad, humorous, beautiful and full of hope and inspiration.

2. Director of Photography Willie Nel won Best Cinematography at both the South African Film and Television Awards and Silwerskerm for capturing the wild beauty of the Magoebaskloof Pass in Limpopo

3. Its the second feature film from Hanneke Schutte, one of the winners of the 2013 Jameson First Shot competition, which saw her write and direct the short film Saving Norman, starring four-time Oscar nominee Willem Dafoe and produced by two-time Oscar nominee Dana Brunetti (Captain Phillips, The Social Network). After making her feature debut with the award-winning Jimmy In Pienk, Hanneke cracked Austin Film Festivals 25 Screenwriters To Watch list last year for Meerkat Maantuig

4. Its been a hit at childrens film festivals around the world, so is perfect for your next family movie day

Accolades:

:: FIPRESCI Critics Prize & Best International Feature, Schlingel Film Festival, 2018

:: Winner of seven international awards

Trailer:

https://youtu.be/S0d_NwEmZ0s

Lockdown Season 4

Premise:

This hit Mzansi Magic drama is set in Thabazimbi, a fictional high security prison for women, where power and survival mean everything. Season 4 picks up three months after the riot. Deborah (Pamela Nomvete) has clawed herself back to the top as governor of the prison, where Tyson (Lorcia Cooper) is now in power, with access to more contraband than the prison has ever seen.

Why you should watch:

1. The acting. At this years South African Film and Television Awards, Dawn Thandeka King won Best Actress: Drama as Ma-Z and Lorcia Cooper won Best Supporting Actress as Tyson. Add in SAFTA winners like Zola Nombona (Ingoma) and Nthati Moshesh (Saints and Sinners) and FESPACO winner Pamela Nomvete (Zulu Love Letter), among many others, and you have arguably the best ensemble cast on South African TV at the moment.

2. To quote CityPress, Lockdown has given South African television drama a much-needed gritty makeover.

3. In May, Lockdown is one of six production

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