Klein Karoo

What it's about:

Cybil Ferreira (Donnalee Roberts) is a young teacher from Oudtshoorn who would do anything to realise her dream of building a recreational centre at the local farm school Kalfieskraal. But her plan is doomed to fail as the land on which the school has been developed is up for sale, and not one of the potential buyers is interested in her idea – least of all her super wealthy ostrich farmer fiancé Meyer Labuschagne (Hykie Berg). And to make matters worse, broken-hearted TV journalist Frans Coetzee (Tim Theron) shows up to film a documentary in the area. There’s an immediate attraction between Cybil and Frans when they meet, turning their worlds upside down.

What we thought:

Directed by Regardt van den Berg (Hanna Hoekom, Hansie) and set in the beautiful enigmatic landscape of the Oudtshoorn area, this 7de Laan/Binnelanders fest is a predictable yet fun love story with a whole lot of heart.

Portrayed by Donnalee Roberts (Annelie from 7de Laan), Cybil is your typical onscreen heroine: determined, hard-working and true to herself. I mean who doesn’t want to be like THAT? Her fiancé Meyer Labuschagne (Hykie Berg) is your typical wrong-guy-for-leading-lady who's more in love with the idea of Cybil than who she really is. And in true romantic comedy style, our broken-hearted hero arrives and saves our I-just-want-to-be-true-to-myself heroine from her doomed life with her I’m-all-about-the-money fiancé.

But before you have all the 'oh how soppy', 'oh how predictable' or 'oh how shallow' thoughts, there’s way more to the story than this. Klein Karoo is set to the backdrop of the effect that alcoholism has on the children of the region. And as a result of the film, the team behind Klein Karoo has started a project to raise funds to actually build recreational centres at schools in the region. That is really awesome. (If you want to help or find out more about this, you can visit their website.)

On to the movie again… Lead actor and newcomer (well, sort of) Tim Theron (Lagnes, Vloeksteen) is heartwarming, honest and fun as documentary filmmaker Frans Coetzee. The story behind Klein Karoo was his brainchild and he also co-wrote the screenplay with young, up-and-coming director and writer Etienne Fourie (Die Windpomp). Oh, and he also helped with the original music of the film… talented much?

Klein Karoo is filled with quite a few quirky characters that absolutely do need a mention. Firstly, lead singer for Straatligkinders, Bouwer Bosch, will have you in stitches in his acting debut as shell-shocked Brian: a talented cameraman who’s just returned from Afghanistan. Enough said.

Pierre Breytenbach is hilarious as Karel "Kiempie" De Villiers, a lodge owner who suffers from germophobia and struggles to say what he really feels. Anel Alexander is believable as the eccentric Sophi Ferreira, Cybil's adopted sister and Sisanda Henna is refreshingly genuine as the quirky and supportive Bongi Mazibuko.

Klein Karoo is a heartwarming story that will make you laugh and cry, but most of all it will make you feel good.