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Cape Town - The Film Factory and Nostalgia Productions on Monday announced that a new film adaptation of Fiela se Kind, the bestselling novel by Dalene Matthee, will hit cinemas across South Africa on 13 September 2019.
Directed by Brett Michael Innes, writer/director of the 2017 Safta-winning film Sink, the film was produced by Danie Bester in conjunction with kykNET Films, Filmfinity (Pty) Ltd and the Department of Trade and Industry.
"The story of Fiela is both heart-breaking and profound," says Bester from the Film Factory offices.
"The novel carries a special place in the hearts of many South Africans and, even though it was written in 1985, we believe that it has themes that still speak to us today."
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The novel was previously adapted into a film in 1988 by director Katinka Heyns and starred Shaleen Surtie-Richards in a performance that was as iconic as the character who inspired it.
"There will naturally be comparisons to the first adaptation," says Innes, who also wrote the screenplay for the film. "We know that we cannot replace it and we’re not trying to. Classic literature has a way of inspiring different artists to tell it in different ways and we believe that ‘Fiela se Kind’ falls into this category. It is truly a timeless story."
Fiela Komoetie will be brought to life by stage actress Zenobia Kloppers with the role of Benjamin Komoetieplayed by newcomers Luca Bornman and Wayne Smith. Drikus Volschenk and Cindy Swanepoel will appear in the roles of Elias and Barta van Rooyen with Melissa Willering, Andre Stoltz, Wayne van Rooyen and Stefan Erasmus also attached to the project.
"It is a great honour to play this character on screen," says Kloppers, who played the role in the 2007 stage production. "Fiela has a way of melting even the hardest of hearts and her journey is one that reminds us all to be better people."
The film was shot on location in both the Knysna Forest and Karoo.
FIRST IMAGES FROM THE SET:
(Photos: Supplied)
