BREAKING THE WAVES

In conjunction with the National Lottery Distribution Fund, the KZNSA hosts the Durban Film Society and their popular Cinema Thursday evenings. Every first and third Thursday of the month, the KZNSA Gallery lawn will transform into a picnic theatre with a selection of international art-house, classic, foreign, experimental and generally interesting films. Bring blankets, snacks and vino, and relive the era of the drive-in as the screen flickers under the starry sky. If the temperamental Durban weather threatens to rain on our parade, the screening will move inside to the tiered café seating.

The next film will be Breaking the Waves on April 21. Directed by Lars Von Trier in 1996, the Danish film represented quite a large shift in style for world famous filmmaker, Lars Von Trier, and was (not coincidentally) written and filmed when Von Trier was in the process of converting to Catholicism. Set in an isolated community in the Scottish Highlands, this film tells the story of Bess McNeill, a young and innocent Scottish girl, who has just married Jan, a Scandinavian oilrig worker. Unfortunately, it isn’t long after they have exchanged vows that Jan has to return to work, far away from Bess. But Bess loves Jan too much to part with him for such a long time, so she goes to church, as is her wont, and prays to God for him to return very soon.

Bess is a somewhat special girl – she goes through periods of deep calm and violent outbursts; when she talks to God, he answers back in her own voice; When Jan returns, he isn’t the same man he was...

The film programme starts at 18h30 at the KZNSA Gallery in Bulwer Road. Entrance is free.