“While primarily a comedy-action film, it also touches on themes like ambition, corruption, and redemption, providing depth and thought-provoking content beneath its entertaining surface.”
These are the words of director Brad Katzen who is responsible for fanning the creative flames of Soweto Blaze.
“It’s a story about aspiration, designed to inspire people of all ages with the message that with hard work and the right people by your side, you can accomplish anything you set your mind to!
“In essence, Soweto Blaze is not just another film. It's a vibrant, energetic piece of cinema that offers humour, action and a fresh perspective on South African life and filmmaking. Its release is an event that promises to engage, entertain, and enlighten a diverse audience worldwide.”
Born and bred in Johannesburg, Brad has been involved in making films for most of his life.
“Since I could talk. I was that cliché in high school, dragging my friends back to my house to make s***ty home movies,” he says jokingly.
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Brad wrote, directed, and edited a short film called The Beginning, starring Tumisho Masha and Letoya Mangezi, which was featured at the Cannes Film Festival Short Film Corner 2025.
The Mzansi film Stick-Up won Best TV Movie at the SAFTAs and his first feature film, The Domestic, was bought by Amazon Prime and is currently streaming on the platform.
The seasoned filmmaker says Soweto Blaze is a film not commonly seen in South Africa.
“It has no agenda other than to entertain you with a strong South African flavour and a healthy dose of romance, humour, and spectacle, he casually explains.
“With this story, we wanted to showcase aspirational characters that are eager to better themselves and improve their life situation. It doesn't shy away from the harsh reality of South African life, but rather embraces it, giving us a fun, tongue-in-cheek glimpse into a group of larger-than-life, quirky characters doing whatever they can to get by in the urban jungle of Jozi.”
One of the goals in making Soweto Blaze was to infuse the film with a youthful energy and optimism that reinforces positive themes of self-improvement, friendship, and love.
“It is something all audiences can embrace, especially as a pleasant distraction from some of the more sombre world events happening around us.”
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The film had its international world premiere at the Austin Film Festival 2023, as an official selection, and is currently enjoying a fruitful run on the international film festival circuit, playing around the world, including Berlin and Toronto.
The feature is carried by such acting talents as Matli Mohapeloa, Dimpho More, Nhlanhla Masiya, Sydney Ndlovu, Nyeleti Khoza, Sello Sebotsane and Palesa Mosiea.
Produced by 33 Films and Mindset Concept Production House, Soweto Blaze is a hyper-stylized, stoner-comedy set amid Soweto's vibrant streets.
“A small-time pot dealer's dreams go up in smoke when his clueless friends sweep him up into a wacky kidnapping caper and their fiery hostage, a feisty young woman, flips the script on them with her own plans.”
There is a well-known saying among those who have a natural inclination to throw ink at the paper in the form of words, and this is to write what you know, which is exactly what Brad did all in the hopes of providing you with some memorable yet light-hearted entertainment.
“Soweto Blaze is the strain of weed that I invented while smoking up and writing the film and thought it would make a cool title for the story,” he adds with a chuckle.
“It does indeed explore the social and cultural aspects of not just Soweto, but the young urban stoner culture of today. The film was shot in and around Soweto so residents will be able to recognise some of the locations and places the film takes place in.
“One of the goals in making Soweto Blaze was to infuse the film with a youthful energy and optimism that reinforces positive themes of self-improvement, friendship, and love.”
Brad believes this aspect is something all audiences can embrace, especially as a pleasant distraction from some of the more sombre world events happening around us.
“In the spirit of that, our production process involved an in-depth student-internship programme where film students and aspiring filmmakers were invited onto the film set to get an introduction to all aspects of filmmaking, allowing young people the opportunity to learn about the various disciplines in filmmaking and giving them, first-hand, a taste of what it’s like on an ‘actual’ production.”
This story is a love letter or homage to Soweto and Joburg, and the pastiche of uniquely South African charm that permeates every nook and cranny.
“There was an extensive casting process to bring together an ensemble of performers such that there's almost no single lead character - every character in the film has something unique or quirky about them to make them memorable.”
Soweto Blaze will be available on Netflix SA on 20 April 2024.
