Title: Gog'Helen
Director: Adze Ugah
Date: Thursday 28 April
Time:
17:30 -18:00
Venue:
FADA Auditorium
Genre: A Satirical Action Comedy
Short Description
Gogo’s mattress is missing. Someone’s gonna
die….
Longer Description
Gog’Helen lives in South African shackland.
When her mother buys her a new mattress, she throws away the old one. But Agnes
doesn’t know that her grandmother keeps her money inside it.
Plot Outline
Gog’ Helen lives a forgotten life in a
shantytown until she and her only relative, her beautiful granddaughter Agnes,
become sucked into a life-and-death race against time as they try to get Gogo’s
life savings back while outrunning vicious criminals involved in prostitution
rings. The events are sparked off when the
unsuspecting Agnes, in a gesture of goodwill, buys Gogo a new mattress but also
throws away the old one without Gogo’s knowledge. What Agnes doesn’t know is
that inside the mattress is her grandmother’s life savings! So when Gogo
returns home, the joy of seeing her granddaughter is quickly replaced by the
agony of losing all her life savings.
The two rush to retrieve the mattress, only
to discover that it is already on its way for recycling. Gog’ Helen and Agnes
go in hot pursuit of the mattress … but meantime Agnes’ employers, a gang of
ruthless prostitution racketeers, who are none too pleased that their cash cow
is not making money for them, descend on the quiet informal community.
About the film
Gog’Helen
is a truly South African action comedy, telling a wacky tale of Gog’Helen, a
seemingly typical township Gogo who is not afraid of anyone. The 80-minute
feature film chronicles a shack-dwelling granny and her prostitute
granddaughter played by Lillian Dube and Kagiso Rakosa who go gangster in an
attempt to retrieve the old lady’s life savings that have been mistakenly
thrown away. It tells of a race against time
to retrieve the money, handle her granddaughter’s ‘employers’ get life back to
tranquil normality.
Gog’Helen
debuted in 2012 at the Durban International Film Festival and was selected to
be in competition. The film was one of only three South African films selected
for a special screening at the the 2012 London Olympics by the National Film
and Video Foundation. In February 2013 it was selected in the official
programme at the Pan African Film Festival in Los Angeles and recently was selected
for competition in the Zanzibar International Film Festival.
This refreshing script and high quality production
is not only a hit at international festivals but is already a hit at local
screenings. In producing a local story, the production team wanted to ensure
that a wide range of local audiences were exposed to Gog’Helen. An innovative
distribution plan is to showcase the movie in township theatres and independent
movie houses. The film will also be travelling to neighboring countries where
audiences can relate to it.
This zany action comedy, set in present-day
Johannesburg, stars some of South Africa’s most well loved stars. And for
a number of these stars, this is their big-screen debut: Lillian Dube, Kagiso
Rakosa, Jet Novuka, Andile Mxakaza, Bongani Maseko, Bubu Mazibuko, Motlatsi
Mafashe, Winnie Modise, Kagiso Modupi, Ishmael Mpeo, Sophie Ndaba, Maurice
Paige and Patrick Shai. All are known to soap lovers, whether you are a fan of
Generations, Isidingo, Zone 14, Muvhango or Scandal.
About the Director: Adze Ugah
Adze Ugah was educated in Nigeria at the National Film
Institute, Jos and graduated with a distinction in Motion Picture Production.
In 2001 he wrote, produced and directed his first video feature, VIYA, which
earned him a Nigerian National Film and Video Censors Board award. He later
attended the South African School of Motion Picture Medium and Live Performance
(AFDA) and majored in Motion Picture Directing and Scriptwriting. He currently
lives in Gauteng where he works on television dramas for South African
Television. Adze Ugah is a AFDA Almnus - follow link for more information about this director.
Production Information.
A feature film that was shot in Dec 2011 in
South Africa, by a local production company - Goliath Productions. Adze Ugah,
writer and director, brings a whole new view on what happens when the most
vulnerable of society have had enough!!
Goliath Productions presents Gog’ Helen
supported by Gauteng Film Commission, a film by Adze Ugah.
Actors.
With Lillian Dube, Kagiso Rakosa, Jet Novuka,
Andile Mxakaza, Bongani Maseko, Bubu Mazibuko, Motlatsi Mafatshe, Winnie
Modise, Kagiso Modupe, Ishmael Mpeoa, Sophie Ndaba, Nandi Nyembe, Maurice Paige
, Patrick Shai, Tebogo Selebogo
Production Team:
Cinematography: Jonathan de la Querra,
1st Assistant Director: Chris Van Latum,
Senior Editor: Tracy Clayton,
Final Sound Design: The Refinery,
Location Sound: Joel Kapend’a Kapend,
Production Design: Vivienne Mahloko,
Wardrobe & Make-Up: Rosina Olifant
Produced by Cati Weinek, Dumi Gumbi, Kethiwe
Ngcobo
Co Produced by Adze Ugah and Themba Duncan
Rikhotso Executive Producers: Dr. Sivi Gounden and Vanessa Gounden,
Written and directed by Adze Ugah
Screenings and competition info.
Gog'Helen went to the Durban film festival,
nominated for best film. It went to the Pan African film festival, the London
Olympics.
