MAX and MONA wins an award! Lorelista reviews the scene!
On the weekend that Dv8’s second feature film, MAX and MONA, received its South African mainstream theatrical release through distributor Ster-Kinekor, it also garnered a Best First Time Feature (Prix Oumarou Ganda) award at the FESPACO Film Festival in Ouagadougou – Africa’s premiere Film Festival. This prize goes to the first feature fil…m by a director whose creative efforts are highly remarkable and deserve encouragements. It is worth 2 million CFA francs (US$4 000). Thats about R25000.. nice one! So what’s with this sudden streak of Nodding Heads towards our flieks???? Zola Maseko’s Drum, Yesterday and now Max and Mona – Lorelista gives us her take on WINNER SA movies: Reviewing films is such a subjective craft. I guess the art to following and taking note of reviews is getting to know them and then following the person who wrote it. Ive not found a reviewer yet who I can say thinks like I do. I think we’re getting past the self hatred and I do like that reviewers dont feel beholden to rave and be overly patriotic about South African films. I thought both Jump The Gun and Paljas were both accomplished films and could stand next to anything Ive seen anywhere. Til I saw Yesterday I thought Max & Mona was the best thing to come out of South Africa to date. Funny great story, belly laugh funny. Us laughing at ourselves. Loved it in both the audience way and the industry person way. Thought Yesterday was beyond superb, evocative, cinematic poetry, non judgemental, dont know why everyone complained about AIDS message/non message, and to think after reading everything I had heard about it – I almost didnt watch it, I was even less interested in watching it than Forgiveness, which I thought was a contrived messy piece of work with Arnold Vosloo deep to the point of emotional blank, thought they surely couldnt have got worse. As for Yesterday – I saw it and thought “We’ve...
Review: Salad at Quintessence in Melville – yuk
Women’s day called for a late lunch and with the beautiful Joburg sun creating a late afternoon glow through the air, we decided a pavement restaurant was the only option. “Put it this way, if we had thrown the old lettuce left in the fridge drawer for two weeks onto a plate and eaten it, it would probably have had more flavour” In Joburg there are several ‘villagey’ suburbs w…here groovy restaurants and terraces spill onto the road, each with their own vibe and spirit. Parkhurst is probably the most bleached and squeaky clean of the bunch, sometimes bordering on sterile. If you like Biggie Best meets Granny’s attic with a dark naughty side at night, it’s for you. As a friend said on a recent lunch in Parkhurst “where are all the darkies?” Greenside has a more upmarket and visionary culinary feel to it, with top end restaurants, a very relaxed and mixed after-work crowd. Many of the restaurants have ‘sittings’, which means that you can only eat during certain ‘meal’ times. Then of course there’s Melville, land of hippy’s, the media crowd and pavements sellers… you just can’t beat Melville for it’s laid back, integrated, multi-cultural buzz… Celebs, shlebs, locals, tourists all mashed together in one of the many tempting cafes and restaurants. It changes all the time with restaurants closing and being replaced with lofty names like ‘Serendipity’ (watch out you’re next for a review!) that you can tell the owner got straight from dictionary.com. We vote Melville as number one for the sheer People Viewing Factor – it’s hard to beat and you will be thoroughly entertained. Anyway, back to the Review, we needed something healthy and had had our eye on the classy QUINTESSENCE which in essence (hee hee) is a deli with mouth-watering food on offer. So we ordered our ‘Quintessence salad’, which was supposed to consist of strips of chicken and bacon on a salad with croutons. It was R32 and at that price it was an utter dissapointment. Maybe the problem is that we compare all salads to those adventures served at Primi Piatti in Rosebank – but come on people! The salad(s) consisted of a scant base of tired and threadbare iceberg lettuce (ugh) lightly sprinkled with a few shards of Bacon and Chicken with a few soggy croutons thrown in. The salad was tiny, badly presented and BLAND BLAND BLAND. Put it this way, if we had thrown the old lettuce left in the fridge drawer for two weeks onto a plate and eaten it, it would probably have had more flavour. We don’t mean to be nasty but...
NATURALISTS – a clothes optional lifestyle
Back in the finger-waving repressive 80s you may have heard of Sandy Bay and Beau Brummel – nudist icons in SA … well the news is that the NATURALIST or NUDIST following in South Africa continues to grow in this amazing land of Freedom!. For something different check out the SA Naturalist… Federation We had a cruise through the site which offers Accommodation, Events, ‘Bashes’, Booze-cruises etc, all with people that like taking their kit off. Yes that’s right – NAKED PEOPLE – There is something attractive about their mission “To promote body acceptance and the enjoyment of a clothes free environment” But I did have a few giggles when going through the photo gallery. Lots of pimply old white bottoms around – in fact the only brown body I saw belonged to a rather well endowed young man which may explain the lily white membership… Close to Joburg there are a couple of Nudist resorts – if you’re a whole family wanting to strip off check out HARMONY for couples check out the very busy and popular Suneden. This years BASH is being held at the Kiepersolkloof naturist area for the ‘discerning’ guest. Come on guys – TAKE IT OFF! LOVE...
Kasi’s are not all the same…P.E ROCKS TOO!!
Our Jozi girl TOBY made a a rare move out of crazy Joburg to the buzz of Kwa-Dwesi in Port Elizabeth (aka Nelson Mandela Bay), she was suprised by what she found there and realised that, coming from Joburg she truly is world’s apart from the PE peeps – she fills us in on why she thinks thats happening: Ekasi (township), Kwa-Dwesi in Port Elizabeth, was so refreshing – the street…s were abuzz with people walking around, women selling, children playing, young people hanging…out. People always say kasi’s are the same...naah! FOR ME this was a new experience, the way I see it, it can never be the same, the people – the way they think and see things, can never be the same from kasi to kasi because although the experiences may be similar, they can never be truly experienced, perceived and interpreted in the same way. I think this is due to the historical background of the place and its people that informs the way we see and perceive things today. Every region has its own historical context which people in that region can relate to and understand through the social and political events which have taken place in that particular area or region. As an outsider to the Kwa-Dwesi environment, I experienced it differently to any other Kasi I have been to in Jozi, particularly Soweto, (where I was born and stayed there for some time). Even in Jozi, when I visit another Kasi, say Vosloorus or Alexandra, the experience in those places somewhat differs from each other. There are still some places in Alex, still declared no-go areas because of the violent crimes against outsiders to Alexandra. It is refreshing to experience first hand how other people experience life because even though you cannot relate, you get a different point of view to that of your own and that teaches us to be humble open-minded human beings if you go there without judgements and fear. You are probably wondering why I was touched if I am black too…right? Well, I last lived in Soweto in 1989 and I remember a particular incident in Junior High where my fellow schoolmates were teasing me that I do not know what it is like to live eKasi because I stay in a ‘suburb’. At the time, I was living in Spruitview, known then as a ‘black suburb’ because it was far from any township. What is ironic is that we were all in a co-ed, ‘model C’ or English school but they thought I was a coconut and a snob. Some Kasi people see other black people who...
KULULA MAAK n PLAN with a BIG SALE
Yes I know – we’re so altruistic – but that’s ‘coz we want people to benefit 100% from the good life on offer in *ZA and to get out there and experience our incredible diverse land! Travel is often the fountain of knowledge… So Kulula is having a major sale – we hope that our predictions of a price warfare may come off and that 1time will respond with even cheaper seats – we’l…l keep you updated – but here goes for now: ‘n BOER MAAK ‘n PLAN You don’t have to be a boer to take advantage of this offer, but planning ahead will definitely help you out in this case. Booking now for travel between August this year and January 2006, will score you a deal that’s even sweeter than your ouma’s koeksisters. One way flights between: Jo’burg – Durbs R 222 Jo’burg – East London R 255 PE – Cape Town R255 PE – Durbs R255 Jo’burg – Cape Town R 333 Jo’burg – George R 333 Jo’burg – PE R 333 This sale starts online today (Wednesday, 15 June) and runs until these seats sell out. You can book to fly between 1 August and 31 January 2006. We have 50 000 sale seats available online for you to book during this period, so now’s your chance to get in there first and get the best deal. Sorry no group bookings...
Southern Cross festival in the Zulu Valley this weekend
The Southern Cross festival takes place in one of the most gorgeous Zululand valley’s known as the Hidden Valley, it’s so worth the drive, it’s a true chilled out music and people festival where you can swim in the river and climb the mountain and listen to some laid-back hippy tunes…. It’s this weekend – don’t forget to TAKE SHADE WITH YOU!!! Adults R150, Under 16’s R75 @ Shop…rite Adults R180, Under 16’s R90 @ the gate Under 12’s go free. This year, a return to roots, Southern Cross promises a much more laid-back experience for festival goers. The performances will take place on the River Stage alongside the Mooi River, with an emphasis on blues, folk, jazz, light rock and ambience. The line-up encompasses Southern Cross favorites and newer bands. Blues genius Dan Patlansky, is headlining the festival who fortunately for us, returned to SA after escaping the devastation in New Orleans where he was touring. Richard Walne, Butter, Wendy New, Guy Buttery, Sitter, Undersound, Cynosure, Starplayer, , Nimbus Experience, The New Academics, Josie Field, The Hairy Legged Lentil Eaters, Bobby and the Dynamites, R.o.d, RedHouse ,The Bandits, No Name Band, Lance Goldman and more. Free Stage on Sat/Sun – Zephyr, Shamon, Broken Lyrics.. Nestled in the Hidden Valley, stretching alongside the magnificent Mooi River, the Southern Cross Farm has been hailed as the “perfect festival venue” – not only because of it’s beauty and natural amphitheatre, but also due to the fact that the camping facilities offered are second to none! Flushing toilets and hot showers! Bliss! “The Southern Cross setting leaves you feeling like nothing is important – the middle east becomes as vital as winning the next card game, The only Bush you care about is the one giving you shade, and whether or not to have another beer is the toughest decision you have to make… ” Anne T. Lope – Festivals.co.za The September Spring festival will appeal to music lovers across the age and race spectrum who enjoy the river, mountains, and filling the lungs with pure, clean air! Over the past six years it has proved to have been a breeding pond for many innovative and successful musicians who go on to bigger and better things in the music industry. Southern Cross prides itself in being safe, clean and wholesome and an educational musical experience for children of all ages. Buy your tickets online or at the gate. ONLINE TICKETS CLICK HERE. FRIDAY 23 SEPTEMBER MAIN STAGE 17:00 LANCE GOLDMAN 18:00 BUTTER 19:00 BOBBY & THE DYNAMITES 20:00 RICHARD WALNE 21:00 WILL’S BLUES BAND 22:00 CYNOSURE 23:00 NEW ACADEMICS 24:00 REDHOUSE SATURDAY...
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