Publications
Partners
Johannesburg - On Tuesday night in Joburg, the locally produced medical thriller Bypass premiered at The Zone in Rosebank. The event was low-key, attended mostly by the film crew, journalists and movie critics.
The film stars Hakeem Kae-Kazim, Deon Lotz and the stunning Natalie Becker, who was at the premiere.
The film’s director, Shane Vermooten, seemed rather excited about his first full-length feature film. “This is my baby. What was great about it, is that I got to work with my wife, Bianca.” She wrote the script and produced the movie.
The subject matter of this film is sure to get tongues wagging. Vermooten dives into the issue of illegal organ smuggling, organ donation and how few people in South Africa are registered as donors (2%). The organisers left envelopes on the seats with instructions to open them after the screening. Inside were forms to register to become an organ donor. There were murmurs of approval from some in the cinema, but others seemed reluctant.
In Bypass, Natalie Becker’s character – a respected heart surgeon – has to turn to the black market in order to get her son a new kidney.
The most challenging aspect of the movie for Natalie was the physicality.
“As an actor, the circumstances are imaginary, but you’re living them. You have to be authentic in your responses.”
The movie is action-packed and entertaining. You can catch it at Ster-Kinekor nationwide.
Watch the trailer for Bypass here:
