The latest film from the beloved South African comedian, Frank and Fearless, was released on 23 November at 95 cinemas countrywide.
On 16 November, movie-goers at Montecasino got to get a sneak peek of the Leon Schuster film and also got to interact with Themba Ntuli, one of the main actors, as well as director and co-writer of the film, Gray Hofmeyr.
The movie tells the story of Sonny Frank (Schuster), a recently-fired railway chef who meets a young rural boy named Fearless (Themba Ntuli) and embarks on a crazy adventure for a good cause.
Fearless is determined to stop the horror of rhino poaching by any means necessary after his friend Rhiny (the baby rhino) is left orphaned by poachers.
The film is a blend of Schuster’s particular brand of humour mixed with a very important message about conservation.
“Leon and I have been talking about this film for five years,” said Hofmeyr, who has worked with Schuster on nine films.
“We talked about what is Africa? Africa has all this beauty, but also all this tragedy. We wanted to know if it would be possible to combine the two in one film.
“The film was meant to go into production two years ago but there were issues with the financing. But because of the message [decrying poaching and the plight of rhinos in the wild], the Department of Environmental Affairs and Sanparks [South African National Parks] came on board as well.”
Hofmeyr added that the film was filled with classic Schuster humour but also had a strong emotional message against rhino poaching which sees hundreds of rhinos killed each year.
The conservation message also impacted Ntuli, who plays a 10-year-old in the film due to his height but is actually 27 years old.
“Fearless is similar to who I am as I am also a conservationist,” he said. “He is this young boy who finds out that this bad thing is happening and wants to avenge it.
Ntuli concluded, “During the course of the movie, he learns that you’ve got to stand up for what is yours and is a wonderful spokesperson for the plight of the rhino.”
The film will be screened at the Montecasino cinema from 23 November.
Also check out:
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Enviro Monday: Hope for the northern white rhino after last male of the species died
Rhino and Lion Nature Reserve’s billboard has been ‘poached’
