Don’t Let’s Go to the Dogs Tonight brings rare glimpse into Zimbabwe’s past
Set during the final days of the Rhodesian Bush War, the film tells the story of a young girl growing up in a country on the edge of change.
It began as a dream. An unshakable calling to adapt Alexandra Fuller’s powerful memoir, Don’t Let’s Go to the Dogs Tonight, into a film that would honour both its raw honesty and deep African roots. On July 24, that dream was finally realised as director and actress Embeth Davidtz unveiled this long-awaited movie at a star-studded premiere at Montecasino.
The film tells the rare story of Zimbabwe’s change from colonial rule to independence, seen through the eyes of a child. It was filmed in South Africa, and follows the life of eight-year-old Bobo as she grows up during the last days of the Rhodesian Bush War. Bobo, played by newcomer Lexi Venter, is a young, white girl living on a farm in Zimbabwe. She faces the pain of loss, a broken family, and the challenges of living in a country going through big changes.
The premiere was hosted by beloved media personality Anele Mdoda, who said: “A lot of you asked what it took to make this New York Times bestseller a movie. It needed someone comfortable in her skin, someone who understood the power in the story, and that’s exactly what Embeth Davidtz brought. Her decades of experience are felt in every scene that she directed.”
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Davidtz was visibly moved. “This is a really big night for me. This entire film has been about nine years in the making, and I have my entire family here tonight, and all of you.”
She reflected on her long-standing desire to return to South Africa and tell a story rooted at home. “When I moved to the US, which was almost 35 years ago now, and started working there, I knew that I wanted to make something here in South Africa. I knew I wanted to come back and create something here, but I knew that I needed to wait.”
She acknowledged the cast and crew for their excellence and dedication, as well as the book’s author. “I am going to be forever grateful to Alexandra Fuller, for the brilliant memoir which sparked this entire journey.”
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