Mark Dornford-May, who won the Golden Bear for U-Carmen eKhayelitsha, follows up with a wondrous retelling of the life of Christ. Set in contemporary Africa, Son Of Man situates Jesus as a political revolutionary more than a religious one. The images are magical, the dialogue stirring, and the acting superb (particularly Andile Kosi who plays Jesus); all combining to make Son Of Man one of the most compelling cinematic interpretations of the story of Christ.

Mark Dornford May. South Africa. 2007. 91 mins. Xhosa/English with English subtitles.

The story of the Gospels re-told as a tale of corruption and redemption in a contemporary African city. Son of Man unveils a portrait of a man of our time whose currency is the politics of compassion. It is a gripping journey of love, deception and betrayal in a conflicted society, with many parallels to contemporary Africa.

Directed in a dazzling, visually arresting style, with a narrative conveyed mostly through rousing traditional singing, this stunning film will be even more powerful given the Arts Centre's history. Rejoice!


Directed by
Mark Dornford-May

Written by
Mark Dornford-May
Andiswa Kedama
Pauline Malefane

Produced by
Mark Dornford-May

Co-Producers
Charles Hazlewood
Camilla Driver
Brigid Olën

Executive Producers
Stephen Daldry
Mike Downey
Pauline Malefane
Sam Taylor

Director of Photography
Giulio Biccari

Editor (UK)
Anne Sopel

Editor (SA)
Ronelle Loots

Music
Charles Hazlewood
Pauline Malefane
Sibulele Mjali

Music Performed by
Dimpho Di Kopane

Supervising Sound Editor
Barry Donnelly

Sound and Music Mixer
Simon Rice

Choreographer
Joel Mthethwa

Costume Designer
Jessica Dornford-May

Art Director
Ernie Seegers


FESTIVALS

2008

Boulder International Film Festival, Boulder

Jesus Flick Fest, Winnipeg

Affrica Effect Film Festival, Santa Fe


2007

Afrika Film Festival, Leuven

Indianapolis International Film Festival, Maine

Fribourg International Film Festival, Fribourg

Vilnius International Film Festival, Vilnius

St. Barth Film Festival, St Barthélemy

River Run Film Festival, Winston-Salem

Wisconsin Film Festival, Altanta

Dublin African Film Festival, Dublin

Amakula Kampala International Film Festival, Kampala

International Film Festival of the Spirit, Maine

Amakula Kampala International Film Festival, Kampala

Sydney Film Festival, Sydney

The BFM International Film Festival, London

Seuol Christianity Film Festival, Edinburgh

Edinburgh African Film Festival, Edinburgh


2006

Sundance Film Festival, Park City

The San Francisco Black Film Festival 2006, San Francisco

Durban International Black Film Festival, Durban

National Arts Festival, Grahamstown

Karlovy Vary Film Festival, Prague

Uhersk Hradi Summer Film School, Uhersk Hradit?

Motovun Film Festival, Motovun

Traverse City Film Festival, Traverse City

Africa In The Picture Film Festival, Amsterdam

Film By The Sea, Vissingen

Port Townsend Film Festival, Port Townsend

Pestival do Rio, Rio de Janeiro

Calgary International Film Festival, Calgary

Festival du Film Britannique de Dinard, Dinard

Mid East Film Festival, Beirut

Filmfest, Hamburg

Chicago International Film Festival, Chicago

Warsaw Film Festival, Warsaw

London Film Festival, London

Festival du Nouveau Cinéma, Montréal

Milwaukee International Film Festival, Milwaukee

City of Angels Film Festival, Los Angeles

Virginia Film Festival, Charlottesville

Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival, Fort Lauderdale

St. Louis International Film Festival, St Louis

Sithengi, Cape Town

Belgrade Human Rights Film Festival, Belgrade

Dubai International Film Festival, Dubai