It was a star-studded event as Gauteng’s elite attended the Johannesburg premier of the movie, Alison.
The Butterfly Revolution ambassadors, model Liz Ogumbo-Regisford and rugby player Victor Matfield, attended the premier of the heart-wrenching movie in attempts to raise awareness for the fight against the abuse of women and children.
The real-life inspiration for the film, Alison Botha, and the film’s director and producer, Uga Carlini, were also in attendance at the event which took place at Nu Metro Hyde Park last week.
The movie details the tragic story of Botha who, in December 1994, was raped, stabbed and disembowelled by two men, after they abducted her from outside her home in Port Elizabeth. Against all odds, she defied death – and she also denied her attackers the satisfaction of destroying her life.
Her book, I have life, published by Penguin SA in 1998, has remained on the Penguin SA bestsellers list and has been translated into seven different languages.
She was also the first-ever South African to publicly speak out about being raped and has become a sought-after motivational speaker, sharing her tale of courage and resilience with audiences around the world.
The movie is a triumphant, deeply personal film with contemporary, real-life fairy-tale undertones. This is her tale about being her own hero, on her terms, but also about how trauma is ongoing, forever lurking in the shadows, ready to show itself at any given moment and devour you all over again – and this story is just one woman’s fight to keep it at bay.
It’s a tale of monsters, miracles and hope and chronicles how Alison’s life has unfolded in the 20 years since the attack.
The film features many real-life heroes from that night, as well as the acting talents of Christia Visser, Zak Hendrikz, De Klerk Oelofse and Francois Maree.
Alison will be released exclusively at Nu Metro Cinemas on 12 August.
