Local film gets international nod
JOBURG – A new remarkable drama titled Krotoa has already won eight coveted awards.
A new remarkable drama titled Krotoa tells the story of a feisty, bright, 11-year-old girl who is removed from her close-knit Khoi tribe to serve Jan van Riebeeck, her uncle’s trading partner.
Growing up and facing a lifetime of struggles, Krotoa ends up being rejected by her own Khoi people when she tries to find the middle way between the two cultures of the Khoi and the Dutch.
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Krotoa is a local film which has already won eight coveted awards including an Award of Excellence at the International Film Festival for Women, Social Issues and Zero Discrimination, and many more, and has also received six official selections at international film festivals around the globe.
It was also included in the prestigious Female Eye Festival which focused on female filmmakers and stories about women.
The film, written by Kaye Ann Williams and Margaret Goldsmid, was created by a dynamic team of women, with acclaimed filmmaker Roberta Durrant as director and producer.
Krotoa is inspired by real-life historical events. The scriptwriter tried to stay true to facts and deductions made about her life, having first made a documentary about Krotoa’s life with the help of various historians and cultural advisers such as Dr Yvette Abrahams, Professor Jatti Bredenkamp, Dr Vertrees Malherbe and Ron Martin.
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“Krotoa’s story was created by a crew of dynamic women. It was imperative that her story not only be told by creatives from the community, but also from a female perspective. Because of the importance of the story the film enjoyed the support and endorsement of The National Film and Video Foundation, in association with M-Net and the Department of Trade and Industry,” said Williams.
“In comparison to men, very few women have been acknowledged for having an impact on South African history,” Durrant added.
Crystal-Donna Roberts, known for her roles in movies and television series, plays Krotoa, while actor, Armand Aucamp, who is renowned for his work, portrays the role of Jan van Riebeeck.
The film is a striking tale about a woman who was prepared to sacrifice everything to give birth to the great nation we all share today. It not only has a powerful message which anyone can relate to, but also promises to take moviegoers on an epic adventure back in time.
The film is set for release in South Africa in August.
Edited by Stacey Woensdregt
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