Local actors, Francois Jacobs and Liam Bosman hit the big screen this summer in the latest film, Vir Die Voëls.
The film, which drew in over R3 million in its first 10 days, is inspired by the true story set in the 70s about Irma Humpel, played by Simone Nortmann, a surly tomboy who ends up marrying the boy who teased her throughout her childhood.
Jacobs plays Sampie de Klerk, a strong character who returns home from the Boer War and falls in love with the girl who lived next door, Irma Humpel. Bosman plays De Klerk’s young self as the film portrays both the young and adult life of both De Klerk and Humpel.
As this is Jacobs’ first major film role, he said, “No words can describe the feeling [of getting the role]. It was very overwhelming. It felt like a lifetime had already passed when the director’s name appeared on my phone. I broke out in a cold sweat, answered the phone, got the good news and shouted at the top of my lungs in happiness.”
With regards to the role, Jacobs said he felt the character has the same life principles as he does. “It’s always hard to portray someone that still exists in real life and to respect their story. I felt that it was crucial to stay true to the character and to represent him truthfully in a time that I did not grow up in,” Jacobs added.
Bosman, as the younger De Klerk, portrays the boy next door who hates his neighbour, Humpel. Bosman said, “I was sceptical because for the audition, I had to act like I was throwing mud that wasn’t even there at a nine-year-old girl.” However, Bosman soon became attached to the role and was very excited to be part of the film as this is his first movie.
“To be honest, the brief part of the script that I got gave me a laugh so I decided, ‘you know, why not’,” Bosman added. Unlike Jacobs, Bosman could not relate to his character but still did his best so as to not disappoint the real life Sampie de Klerk.
“He is rough and that is nothing like me because I’m a softie who likes romcoms. He is arrogant, which I am told I can be sometimes. I do have better hair than him but I wish I could get half the number of girls he got,” Bosman joked.
