(Christia Visser)
The award-winning feature film Tess produced by Paul Egan
and Kim Williams and directed by Meg Rickards will go on limited release at
Cinema Nouveau V&A Waterfront, Cape Town on September 16 for one week in
order to qualify for Oscar consideration in the Best Foreign Film category.
Since its much anticipated premiere at the Durban
International Film Festival (DIFF) in June of this year, where it picked up
awards for Best Editing (Linda Man), Best Actress (Christia Visser) and Best
South African Feature, Tess film has
continued to make waves. During its most
recent outing at the KykNET Silweskermfees, the film garnered awards for Best
Actress (Christia Visser), Best Cinematography (Bert Haitsma) and Best Editing
(Linda Man).
Tess is based on
the novel Whiplash by Tracey Farren
who was also responsible for the screenplay. The film introduces audiences to
Tess, a 20 year-old who sells her body on Cape Town’s streets. She survives by popping painkillers by the
bunch and through her wry humour. But
her life turns upside down when she falls pregnant. Though Tess tries to run,
her past torments her. She begins to question her own sanity. Tess fights back,
fighting her demons, searching for the truth.
The film stars Christia Visser, Nse Ikpe-Etim and Brendon
Daniels with Lee-Ann van Rooi, Dann Jacques Mouton and Quanita Adams.
“Making this film has been a labour of love for me”, says
Meg Rickards. “Everyone involved in the film has given absolutely everything
and has been extremely brave in bringing this story to the big screen. It is
really gratifying that their contributions have been recognised at both DIFF
and at kykNET Silwerskermfees”.
Tess is
distributed in South Africa by Times Media Films and will go on general release
in February 2017.
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