Son of Man

From Onehouse we read of a South Africa movie causing quite a stir at Sundance. Roger Ebert writes:

The South African film renaissance continues with one of the most extraordinary and powerful films at Sundance, “Son of Man.” This is the story of Jesus, told in episodes from the New Testament, but set in present-day Africa. This is a Jesus (Andile Kosi) who says the same sorts of things he says in the Bible, is not “updated” except in some of his terms of reference, and yet sends an unmistakable message: If Jesus were alive today, he would be singled out as a dangerous political leader, just as he was the first time around.

The movie has relatively little spoken dialogue, but a great deal of music, that joyous full-throated South African music that combines great technical skill with great heart. Some of the best moments belong to a chorus, singing the praises of the lord. Others belong to an actress named Pauline Malefane, who plays Mary, and sings in celebration after being told she will be the mother of Jesus.

She’s told by an angel; the angels in the movie are small African boys with a few feathers attached here and there, looking on with concern. Jesus’s disciples include a few women along with the men this time, and they follow him through the townships of Cape Town as he preaches non-violence. Television news tells of occupying forces and uprisings, the modern version of the Roman concern with the Jews. Judas spies on Jesus with a video camera. The secret of the movie is that it doesn’t strain to draw parallels with current world events – because it doesn’t have to.

The movie was directed by Mark Dornford-May, but it is an improvisational collaboration of the Dimpho Di Kopane Theater company, which also created Dornford-May’s great “U-Carmen” (2005), a version of Bizet’s opera sung entirely in Khosa. That, too, starred Pauline Malefane, a trained opera singer.

Official site

Comments

[Heather]

Is it out on release now???

[David]

Can't. Wait. Must. See. Movie. NOW!

Wow - how cool does this look!?

[Elaine]

I checked the offical web site but is does not give any info on distribution.

The Times, London calls the movie "a piece of arthouse genius" which makes me very impatient to see it.

I will "google" and see if I can find out any more information about this film.

[Elaine]

Here are selected sites I found by googling "Son of Man Film." Each article is worth reading for additional info about the film. Alas, nothing about worldwide distribution after Sundance.
#1.
Son of Man stuns Sundance
http://www.southafrica.info/what_happening/arts_entertainment/son-of-man-250106.htm
#2.
Black Jesus film aims to start talk
http://www.cnn.com/2006/SHOWBIZ/Movies/01/20/arts.jesus.black.reut/
#3.
Interview with Mark Dornford-May, the director
http://www.indiewire.com/people/2006/01/park_city_06_ma.html

[Karen]

Films usually go to Sundance or Toronto to look for distribution deals. We may hear more once the festival is done or this may just become a festival film.

By the way, I blogged about this on the Beyond blog.

Our film writer has some good recommendations out of the Palm Springs Festival that could be looked for at the same time as looking for this one. Up with international film! And people! And balloons and airplanes! And birds and clouds! Need a snack.

[paul]

Not in general release for a while, according to this article :-(

http://tonight.co.za

Excerpt:
An award-winning local film, which features a black Jesus, is to premiere in South Africa shortly - and churches across Cape Town have been chosen as the venues.

Filmed in Khayelitsha and surrounding areas, Son of Man, received rave reviews at both the Sundance Film Festival in the US state of Utah and the Pan African Film Festival in Los Angeles, where it won the Festival Award for Best Feature.

Now the film, which had its World Premiere at Sundance in January, is being brought to South African audiences for the first time.

"We wanted to find a different way to premiere the film," said director Mark Dornford May.

"We felt it was important to ensure as many people as possible were able to see the film ... traditional cinemas can be difficult to get to and are often expensive."

As a result the decision was taken to show the film at a network of Cape Town churches around Easter.

The film will be shown at Emmanuel Methodist Church in Gugulethu, Athlone Methodist Church, Central Methodist Church in Long Street, Langa Methodist Church, Rosebank Methodist Church and Trinity Methodist Church in Nyanga East on selected dates between April 8-15.

"This is the same way that The Passion (of the Christ) was first shown in the US," explained Dornford May, "and has the advantage of allowing us to test the reactions of a core audience before the film goes on more general release."