VIP Gala Screening for DIFF World Première Documentary
The gala screening of the world première of A Snake Gives Birth to a Snake, the
much-anticipated documentary debut of celebrated television/film/theatre
director Michael Lessac, promises to be one of the highlights of this year’s
DIFF (Durban International Film Festival) with some of the country’s foremost
peace mediators joining members of the cast and crew for the world première
screening, followed by a Q&A session at the Suncoast Cinecentre this
afternoon (July 20) at 17h15.
Dr Alex Boraine, deputy chairperson of the TRC, and
multi-award-winning veteran political commentator / author Max du Preez will attend
the gala and lead the dialogue after the screening. They will be joined by
actors Thembi Mtshali-Jones and Nick Boraine, and Fana Mokoena who will share
their experiences of the journey that led to A Snake Gives Birth to a Snake.
It is fitting that du Preez was announced as winner of the
Alan Paton Award at the 2014 Sunday Times Literary Awards for his book A Rumour of Spring: South Africa after 20
Years of Democracy. The Alan Paton Award is given for a work of non-fiction
that promotes The Illumination of
Truthfulness…, a theme which is particularly pertinent to the documentary.
The producers are thrilled that last weekend, the Standard
Bank Standing Ovation Award was presented to Thembi Mtshali-Jones for her
illustrious career at the National Arts Festival and in recognition of a
lifetime of creative energy in South Africa’s cultural life spanning over four
decades.
The documentary A
Snake Gives Birth to a Snake follows a diverse group of South African
actors as they tour global war-torn regions to share South Africa’s experience
of reconciliation. As they ignite dialogue among people with raw memories of
atrocity, the actors find they must confront once again our country’s
complicated and violent past – and question their own capacity for healing and
forgiveness.
“The film highlights the valuable role arts played in peace
and reconciliation, and the genuine contribution arts can play in the global
reconciliation movement and ongoing nation-building,” considers actor Nick
Boraine who appears in the movie and who was part of the A Snake Gives Birth to a Snake project since its inception.
A Snake Gives Birth to
a Snake was edited by Joel Plotch (In
the Company of Men; Nurse Betty; Gone). It was produced by Michael Lessac,
Jacqueline Bertrand Lessac and Emma Tammi and Executive Produced by Jonathan
Gray, and Robert Lear. It features never-before-heard original music by jazz
legend Hugh Masekela, with lyrics taken from TRC personal testimonies.
A Snake Gives Birth to
a Snake premieres at the Durban International Film Festival taking place in
venues in and around Durban from July 17 to 27, 2014. The gala screening is at
17h15 this afternoon (July 20) in Suncoast (6) with a second screening on July 25
at 20h15 at Suncoast (7).
Public are warmly invited to attend a morning Tea and
Conversation function at the Tugela Room in the Maharani Hotel tomorrow (July 21)
from 10h30 until noon. The topic is Unmasking
Reconciliation: 20 Years On....Moving Beyond the Cliché. Join Dr Alex
Boraine (Vice Chair: Truth & Reconciliation Commission / writer /
commentator); Max Du Preez (commentator / columnist / award-winning writer /
film-maker); Thembi Mtshali Jones (distinguished stage, television and film actress);
Ela Gandhi (Gandhi Development Trust / activist; Albie Sachs (former
Judge of the Constitutional Court of SA / Activist) in conversation with media
leader Mary Papayya . Entry is free and all are welcome
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