As a country with one of the highest cases of gender-based violence and rape, writer and director Paul Modjadji’s film The Deal shows how troubled backgrounds could affect one’s mental health.
“The intersectionality between gender-based violence, high levels of poverty as well as difficulties with accessing higher education are intersecting issues that are further exasperated by issues of race and class that continue to divide us as a nation,” said Modjadji.
Premiered at the Nelson Mandela Foundation in Houghton, the film follows the life of an 18-year-old South African girl, Thandeka, played by actress Botlhale Boikanyo, who finds herself in a transactional sexual affair with a wealthy benefactor.
“This character’s story is one I resonated closely with and is unfortunately a saddening reality for so many women and girls in South Africa. I hope through her story we can reflect truths, educate and change perceptions,“ added Boikanyo.
The Deal is not only the first film in South Africa to feature a dementia diagnosed character, but veteran actress Abigail Kubeka said it was her first time taking up a role of a character who suffered from such a mental illness.
“Although I did not know about the mental illness, I took the role because of its importance in bringing light to dementia awareness in South Africa. Many people consider cognitive decline as a normal part of ageing and not the ailment it is.”
The film delves into the thematic area of transgenerational transactional relationships otherwise widely labelled ‘blesser and blessee’ relationships in South Africa, while exploring the toll often carried by young girls in pursuit of higher education.
Matli Mahepeloa the blesser, who plays the character who sleeps with Thandeka, added it was important to have certain conversations with boys and men who were perpetrators.
“It’s about teaching boys and men about the value of human life, value of people. In teaching them about the value of people, I mean teaching them about what it really means to be a good and compassionate human being.
It starts with how men view themselves and eventually how it translates to how they view other people,” he said.
Napo Masheane who plays Thandeka’s mom, said her character taught her trauma an abuse were layered.
“My character identifies with these two layers, because it is someone who has given up and lost so much and how Thandeka had to almost give in to certain temptations. There is also a lot of absentia my daughter is facing, but I’m also not fully present as a mother which eventually transfers to my daughter,” said Masheane.
The Deal also stars Dr Jerry Mofokeng and Aubrey Poo.
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