FILM AWARDS:
§ Berlin International Film Festival 2005 – Golden Bear Winner
§ Cannes International Film Festival 2005 – World Cinema Selection


In Xhosa with English subtitles

Genre: Drama
Director: Mark Donford-May
Starring: Andile Tshoni, Andiswa Kedama
RunTime: 2 hrs
Released By: The Picturehouse
Rating: PG

Opening Day: 8 June 2006

Synopsis :

U-CARMEN EKHAYELITSHA, a feature film sung and spoken in Xhosa. Based on Bizet's opera CARMEN, the film is set in present day Khayelitsha, a township near Cape Town. The link between the original opera and the screenplay will be the acclaimed Dimpho Di Kopane cast and Bizet's sensational score.

Movie Review:


Who says opera is only reserved for members of the upper-class society who supposedly appreciate art and culture better? Music has always been a medium meant to transcend everything, from geographical boundaries, languages to skin colours and age limits. This statement has never been truer, especially in this latest version of George Bizet’s well-loved and popular 1875 opera Carmen.

The original story of Carmen is set in 19th century’s Seville, Spain, where a tale of love, vengeance, distrust and yearning intertwine through its titular character’s life. This 120-minute film transports this gutsy plot to modern-day Khayelitsha, near Cape Town, Africa. And if the images presented on screen do not give you a sense of exotic sensuality of the country, the characters will.

Carmen (a very sexily voluptuous Pauline Malefane) is a plucky cigarette factory girl, oozing fierce grit and indomitable character. Contrast this fiery character with the somewhat wimpy police sergeant Johgikhaya (a very down-to-earth-looking Andile Tshoni) who has a secret history, presto – sparks fly in the midst of all the songs in the film. And if you know the original plot of the opera, tragedy awaits them.

Never mind if you do not understand the songs sung in Xhosa, one of South Africa’s eleven official languages. The passion and zeal of the original spirit of Carmen works perfectly in the hot and humid shantytown backdrop of this African adaptation.

Never mind if you do not know any of the opera songs from the original Carmen. It does not even matter if you do not enjoy opera. Once you have settled yourself in the cinema, you will find yourself tapping to some of the tunes. Trust us; you would have heard some of the songs from some other place. This is made possible with the affecting and joyfully-choreographed song and dance sequences which are dispersed nicely throughout the film.

Never mind if you are not familiar with the original plot of Carmen. The story unfolds nicely through breathtaking visuals and accessible camerawork and storytelling technique. There may be a lack of character setup for Carmen and Johgikhaya, which may result in the audience not connecting with them. However, it is a fault we can forego, given the efforts taken in integrating classic opera and film.

Kudos go to director Mark Dornford-May, who dabbled in theatre before making this first feature, which won this film the coveted Golden Berlin Bear during last year’s Berlin International film Festival. Credit also goes to Dornford-May’s lyric theatre company Dimpho Di Kopane, where all the main cast members of the film are from.

If not for anything else, this is also a good opportunity for local viewers to get a taste of what South African cinema is like. It is rare we have a film from the country reaching our shores, and it is indeed an eye-opening and well, an “ear”-opening experience. Besides feasting your eyes on every lane and every street corner captured by the film lens, listen out for the unique tongue-clicking Xhosa language - do not mistake it for an audio hiccup in the film reel.

Sure, we may be thriving on the much-discussed academic notion of exoticism here. But from the first exhilarating fast motion pull-out shot of Khayelitsha, to the final steady magnificent pull-out shot of a concert hall, it is one cinematic experience you will not forget.

Movie Rating:

(Music knows no boundaries – this latest adaptation of one of the world’s best-loved opera will charm you)

Review by John Li