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This is the second high-energy musical from the filmmaking team behind the 2010 blockbuster Liefling, Die Movie, comprised of producers Paul Kruger and Emma Kruger, and co-producer and director Linda Korsten.
Expectations for the film are running high. Filmmakers are putting a challenge to the public in a competition to break the previous record held by Liefling, Die Movie by voting for Pretville through buying tickets to see it.
Hartiwood Studios has created two thermometers to measure and keep track of the number of attendances Pretville gets compared to Liefling, Die Movie, which became the best-performing Afrikaans feature film of all time, grossing just under R13m.
The movie was also seen by more than 459 500 people.
Movie enthusiasts can view the thermometers, track the challenge and watch Pretville's progress on the movie's website. The figures will be updated every week once Pretville opens on circuit.
Musical set in the 1950s
"We can't wait to see how South African audiences respond to Pretville which is why we'll be tracking its progress along with the public," says co-producer and director Korsten.
"The film is a rollicking romantic musical comedy set in the 50s, in the colourful town of Pretville, where fun is the order of the day. Like its predecessor Liefling, it's a story about young love set in a vibrant backdrop and populated by wonderful, instantly recognisable characters.
"We are hoping that cinema audiences will love it enough to get it to surpass Liefling, which was an incredible success and proved just how much people enjoy light-hearted romantic comedies, especially when they are set to really great music."
Also on board is the internationally acclaimed composer and songwriter Machiel Roets who has composed more than 30 new Afrikaans songs for the film. Roets has worked as musical director on pantomimes and musicals in London for more than 12 years.
The film stars Marlee van der Merwe and newcomer Eugene Jensen in the leads. Other appearances are made by stars such as Terence Bridgett, Steve Hofmeyr, Emo Adams and Lizz Meiring.
"The attendance figures for Liefling have proved just how much South African audiences love the new breed of top quality Afrikaans films that have been produced in the last two years," says Helen Kuun, CEO of Indigenous Film Distribution.
"We believe that Pretville can break that record."
