Durban ‘bucket bomb’ to celebrate film this weekend
A nonviolent leaflet device known as a ‘bucket bomb’ will be re-created on Saturday to celebrate ‘London Recruits’, the film that tells the story of Oliver Tambo’s daring plan.
THE Durban FilmMart (DFM) takes place from July 21–24 under the theme ‘African Constellations’.
Among the industry professionals attending DFM are those from London Recruits which is produced by Barefoot Rascals, a Welsh production company, together with Durban’s Arclight Productions. The film sheds light on the 1970 struggle against the apartheid government in South Africa when Oliver Tambo hatched a daring plan to infiltrate young British activists into the country, posing as tourists.
To celebrate the film, which has yet to be released, a nonviolent leaflet device or ‘bucket bomb’ will be re-created on Saturday, July 22 at 10:00 at the Amphitheatre in front of the Elangeni Hotel on Durban’s beachfront.
Also read: Durban welcomes local and international filmmakers for annual Film Festival
“In 1970 – an age before social media and instant messaging – these leaflet devices were the only way that Oliver Tambo could get a message of hope through to his people,” explains Colin Charles UK producer. ”Engineered to make a big noise and hurl leaflets into the sky, they were deliberately designed not to harm anybody.”
Guests at the event will include former minister of Intelligence Services Ronnie Kasrils, executive producer of the film, Robyn Slovo, South African producer Jacintha de Nobrega, producer/director Gordon Main and UK producer Colin Charles.
‘It will be great to stand alongside Ronnie Kasrils, for the first time since 1970, as he witnesses the leaflet device he helped invent,” said director/producer Gordon Main. “We are coming to share the movie with our cast and crew and promote it at Durban FilmMart.”
Main met Durban producer Jacintha de Nobrega at a KwaZulu-Natal Film Commission delegation to the BFI London Film Festival in 2018.
Also read: FilmMart shines a spotlight on animation industry
‘We are thrilled with this compelling documentary,” stated Jacintha de Nobrega of Arclight Productions. “The whole project created opportunities for our filmmakers in KZN, and it’s been a fantastic experience to work on a co-production of this importance. We are grateful for the funding from KZN Film Commission and for the location support from the Durban Film Office.”
The film will also be shown to a packed audience of specially invited cast and crew at Suncoast CineCentre. Later, the team will attend a panel discussion at the Durban FilmMart titled ‘Justice through Story: Film and Activism’, featuring Ronnie Kasrils, Robyn Slovo, Julie Nederboorn (Movies that Matter), Zackie Achmat (#UniteBehind) and moderator, Niren Tolsi.
For more information about the film, go to: www.londonrecruits.com.
For more from Berea Mail, follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. You can also check out our videos on our YouTube channel or follow us on TikTok.
