Somewhere between City of God and Blue Crush, Otelo Burning is a coming of age story set against the backdrop of Nelson Mandela's release from prison. It's an emotional story of kids in the township learning to surf. It's a story of the explosive potential for change at the time of apartheid's end - all seen through a child's eye.
Shot in Durban and directed by Sara Blecher (SURFING SOWETO), the film tells the story of a group of township kids who discover the joy of surfing. It's set in 1989, against a backdrop of brewing conflict between two political groups in Lamontville. When 16-year-old Otelo Buthelezi takes to the water for the first time, it's clear that he was born to surf. But then tragedy strikes. On the day that Nelson Mandela is released from prison, Otelo is forced to choose between surfing success and justice. This is a beautifully made, insightful and entertaining film that captures a turbulent time in the history of South Africa.
It is 1989 and the struggle against apartheid has reached its peak. The story starts when 16 year old Otelo Buthelezi, his younger brother Ntwe and his best friend New Year are invited to the beach-house where their new friend's mother is a domestic worker. They watch Mandla Modise surf and he takes the boys into a world previously closed to them. It is exactly the opposite of the township where they live - a place under a constant and growing threat from political violence fuelled by Inkatha hostel dwellers on one side, and United Democratic Front comrades on the other. For the boys, who previously had a deep-seated fear of the sea, "flying on water" comes to represent freedom, and they are sold. Soon, everyone recognises that Otelo is truly gifted on the water, a surfing star in the making. An older white man, Kurt Struely, approaches the boys, certain of their potential. He invites them to his home to watch some professional surfers on video. He also paints an enticing picture of the life they could have if they learn to master the waves. With practice, Otelo soon outshines his friend, Mandla, whose resentment builds even more when Dezi, New Year's younger sister, falls for Otelo. As the boys begin to win competitions, Mandla's jealousy grows and eventually he betrays his friend. In exchange for money for a new surfboard, he sells Otelo's brother out as a suspected informer for the apartheid security police. When Otelo discovers the truth behind his younger brother's death, he has to make a choice between the money, glamour, girls and superstardom of international surfing and justice for Ntwe. On the day Nelson Mandela steps out of prison for the first time in 27 years, the young boy makes a choice that will change his life forever. Otelo Burning is the opening film for the 32nd Durban International Film Festival. The film is directed by Sara Blecher and is in Zulu with English subtitles. It stars Jafta Mamabolo (Generations), Thomas Gumede (A Place Called Home), and Tshepang Mohlomi (Izulu Lami).
Directed by Sara Blecher
Country : South Africa Year: July 2011 Run Time: 90 min. 0 sec.
Director: Sara BLECHER Screenplay: James WHYLE, Sara BLECHER and THE CAST WORKSHOP Story Editor: Clarence HAMILTON Producer: Sara BLECHER Line Producer: Richard GREEN Executive Producers: KEVIN FLEISCHER, ZANELE MTHEMBU Director of Photography: LANCE GEWER Editor: MEGAN GILL Production Design: ANITA VAN HEMERT Original Score: ALAN LAZAR, TIAGO CORREIA-PAULO Casting by MESHAK MAVUSO and SARA BLECHER
Otelo__ JAFTA MAMABOLO New Year__ THOMAS GUMEDE Mandla__ SIHLE XABA Ntwe__ TSHEPANG MOHLOMI Dezi__ NOLWAZI SHANGE Oscar Buthelezi__ KENNETH NKOSI Mother Christmas__ HARRIET MANAMELA Blade__ MOTLATSI MAFATSHE Kurt__ MATTHEW OATS Potential Sponsor__ DAN ROBBERTSE Surf Shop Attendant__ NEIL COPPEN Master of Ceremonies__ JAIME MAIN-BAILIE Kevin__ BYRON LANGLEY Ma Modise__ NOSISA NTULI Amachain__ DUMISANI DLAMINI Baba Ndlovu__ SDUDUZO KAWULA Sgora__ BHEKANI SHABALALA Xolani__ ROBERT NKOSI Terror Gcaleka__ PRINCE SHIBE Inkatha Man at shebeen__ JABULANI MFEKA Drunk Man__ BHEKITHEMBA ‘PEPE' MAJOLA Man two__ TIKI NXUMALO Little White Girl__ CANA FOSTER Judges__ DYLAN RUFFEL, BRANDON SIJAC, RYAN WAN DER MERWE New Year's Girl at Party__ MASTANDWA MOKOENA Sorry Man at Party__ SIYABONGA ‘MPA' NXUMALO News reader__ JESSICA PITCHFORD Otelo Surf Double__ QUINTON SHABALALA New Year Surf Double__ MESHAK MQADI
Crew Director SARA BLECHER Director of Photography LANCE GEWER Story Editor__ CLARENCE HAMILTON Narration__ JUSTINE LOOTS Script Doctor__ THANDI BREWER Script Supervisor__ BRUCE MOLEMA Continuity Intern / Translator: LINDA MASHISHI Camera Operator: LANCE GEWER B Camera Operator: NIC HOFMEYR Focus - 1st Cam: PAM LAXEN DIT Wrangler: KARL SCHMIDT Camera Assistant: ALEX MAGOMBO Camera Trainee / 3rd Assist.: SICELO MAMLE Key Grip: ANDREW VAN BILJON Best Boy Grip: MARK SHONE 1st Assistant Grip: NKOSINATHI MTOLO Rigging grip Daily: HARRY MARÉ Gaffer: DAVE HOWE Best Boy Lights: GIDEON PRETORIUS 1st AD: RICHARD GREEN 2nd AD: THABANI GIGABA 3rd AD / Extras Co-ordinator: NJABULO CWELE Locations /Unit/Transport Manager: CLEM HENNESSY Unit Assistants: BHEKI SHUSHA, SIZA KHAWULA, NKOSINATHI NTOLO Drivers: MARK SHONE Medic on set: SIHLE XABA Tutor/Childminder: JOHAN VENTER Spark: JEROME MBATHA Rigging Spark Daily: KWAZI KHUMALO Sound Engineer: SHAUN MURDOCH Boom Swinger: TRAVIS NEL Production Manager: ADDIE VIGÁRIO Production Coordinator: SASHA NIRMUL Production Assistants: BONGANI GUMBI, NKOSINATHI GAMBUSHE, MONDLI SHOZI Production Intern: TIDIMALO MOTLHAMME Production Accountant: ALLISON PALMER Production Design: ANITA VAN HEMERT Art Director: CHANTEL CARTER Set Dresser/Construction: MORGAN MUDHANADZO Props Master/Standby Props: DEREK O'CONNOR Standby Assistant/Driver: WELCOME GUMEDE Scenic: BHEKI KHUMALO Research & Set Dressing: MIA-CARLA BUNGE Loca Art Department Assisant: IANDA SIKHOSANA Costume Designer: RUY FILIPE Wardrobe Supervisor - Surf Unit: PATRICK FLYNN Wardrobe Supervisors: NOMONDE NGEMA, SAM KELLY Wardrobe Standby Assistant: THEMBI BUTHELEZI Seamstress: EUNICE GUMEDE Key Make-up & Hair: JACQUI BANNERMAN Assist. Make-up & Hair Trainee: PRINCE SHIBE SFX Supervisor: LEON BREYTENBACH SFX Coordinator: JENN ROBINSON Stuntmen: SHANE HOAL, XOLANI MTHETHWA, SANDILE SAMAMANE, MXOLISI GUMEDE, MICHAEL NKOSI, ERIC MTSHILIDE Stills: CRAIG EWING, DANIEL CUTHBERT, ANDREW MAHLANGU, KEVIN FLEISCHER Surf Unit: RICHARD MOERDYK, NEIL WEBSTER Surf Consultant - Umkomaas: MARK ANDERSON Land Cameraman: NIC HOFMEYR Ski Driver: JEREMY PHILLIPS Water Camera Assistant: ADRIAN CHARLES Surf Consultant: SIHLE XABA EPK Surf / Continuity Advisor: ANDY DAVIS Editor: MEGAN GILL Additional Editor: KARYN BOSCH Assistant Editors: KHOLOFELO MALATSHI, NOMPILO VILAKAZI Trailer Editor: MANDY ROBERTS EPK Producer: XOLI MATOMELA EPK Co-producer: ANDREW MAHLANGU Post Production & Digital Intermediate: THE REFINERY Post Production Supervisor: TRACEY WILLIAMS Digital Intermediate Producer: LAUREN VAN RENSBURG Post Production Assistant: JENNY NURSOO On-line Editor: TERRY SIMPSON Baselight Colourist: ALEX MAY Title Design: ALEXANDER MELCK Sub-titles & Mastering: JOHN BRINK End Roller: ADRIAAN SMUTS Systems Engineer: SYLVESTER MOTLOUNG QC Engineer: AXEL KOMPAT Film Recording: ARRI at THE REFINERY Film Recording Engineer: GERHARD KRIEL Sound Post Production: AREA 5.1 Re-recording Engineer: CHARLOTTE BUYS Sound Designer: JULI VANDENBERG Dialogue & ADR: Track-lay MICHAEL BOTHA Foley Artist: JULIET PHILLIPS Foley Recording Engineer: ALEX PICCARD ADR Recording Engineer: MICHAEL BOTHA Sound Systems Engineer: BARRY DOUGLAS Optical Sound Negative: TECHNICOLOR (UK) Film Laboratory: THE FILM LAB Original score: ALAN LAZAR Additional original score: TIAGO CORREIA-PAULO Trailer Score: NIC PATON Music Supervisor: DAVE DURBACH Score Recording: BUREAU OF DIVINE MUSIC, LOS ANGELES Score co-producer: BO JACOBSON Guitars: JOSH JOVE Vocals: SASKIA GAREL-CHEN Score Mix: CASEY STONE score mix johannesburg: GAVAN ECKHART, Score Publisher: LALELA MUSIC Music Services: USA PIRMIN MARTI
National Film and Video Foundation Head - Production and Development: CLARENCE HAMILTON Head - New Ventures: RYAN HAIDARIAN
Finance Information Total Budget - R10 million (US$1.3million)
Prod: Cinga Productions
in association with The National Film and Video Foundation and Sabido Productions
The story, including all names, characters and incidents portrayed in this film, is fictitious. No identification with actual persons, places, buildings, events or products is intended or should be inferred. Copyright: 2011 All rights reserved.
CONTACT INFORMATION Official film website: www.oteloburning.com
Indigenous Film Distribution +27 11 719 4080; www.indigenousfilm.co.za
For more information and interviews with the cast, please contact: David Alex Wilson, publicist, 083 629 2587, davidalex@madmoth.co.za
FESTIVALS / AWARDS
2011 | 32nd DIFF - Durban Intl Film Festival | DURBAN, South Africa | www.cca.ukzn.ac.za/index.php?option=com_ukzncca&view=filmdetail&id=66555 * Official Competiton * World Premiere Filmmaker, actors and Executive Producers in attendance SCREENINGS 21st Jul / 7:00 PM / Nu Metro Cinecentre Suncoast / Suncoast A 23rd Jul / 4:00 PM / Ster Kinekor Musgrave / Musgrave B 25th Jul / 10:00 AM / Nu Metro Cinecentre Suncoast / Suncoast A
30 September 2011(South African Release)
Summary for official catalogues
Shot in Durban and directed by Sara Blecher (SURFING SOWETO), the film tells the story of a group of township kids who discover the joy of surfing. It's set in 1989, against a backdrop of brewing conflict between two political groups in Lamontville. When 16-year-old Otelo Buthelezi takes to the water for the first time, it's clear that he was born to surf. But then tragedy strikes. On the day that Nelson Mandela is released from prison, Otelo is forced to choose between surfing success and justice. This is a beautifully made, insightful and entertaining film that captures a turbulent time in the history of South Africa.
A film by Sara Blecher, 2011, South Africa, 1h30 min.
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