The Deal premiered in commemoration of Youth Month and world Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month
The film is the first in South Africa to feature a dementia diagnosed character.
Launched at the Nelson Mandela Foundation, writer and director of The Deal Paul Modjadji said the project was an ode to South Africa.
He explained, “It is apt that we are launching this film at the Nelson Mandela Foundation in what is observed as youth month in South Africa. I made this film as an ode to South Africa, because even though we are a nation inflicted with many challenges, we never shy away from owning and speaking out about our ills. We never sweep anything under the rug.”
The film follows the life of 18-year-old Thandeka and tackles a mixed bag of societal issues such as gender-based violence, trans-generational transactional relationships, access to education, dementia and mental health.
Veteran actress Abigail Kubeka said she was honoured to play the dementia-diagnosed character. This makes it the first film in South Africa to feature a character with this mental illness. “It pains me deeply that I have lived on this earth for 82 years, and only when I landed this role at 81 years old did I learn dementia was an illness and not a normal path of ageing.
“I am so relieved and overjoyed to know this information and I pray that God gives me enough strength to live long enough to educate as many as possible about this illness.”
Actress Napo Masheane, who plays the character of Thandeka’s mother, commended the film for sharing the lived experiences of women across South Africa authentically. “There are so many exhausted, depressed and devoid of strength women in our country who are burdened by single parenting that their own dreams have to be packed away.
“Playing this character was hard, because we all know women like this.”
Botlhale Boikanyo, who plays Thandeka in the film, said she was happy such films were being made about the realities of some young women in South Africa. “I am so sad and yet so hopeful to see films about girls such as Thandeka being told in this light. A lot of the times we judge young girls and women and never look beyond the circumstances that push them to make such brave and hard calls.”
Related articles:
Nelson Mandela Foundation mourns the passing of Mam’ Dorothy Masuka
