Action-packed SA comedy film to hit cinemas

THE South African film scene will add another classic to its repertoire of great cinematic productions with the nationwide release of Safe Bet on March 11 at all Ster Kinekor Theatres nationwide and in Zimbabwe, Zambia and Namibia.

The film, which stars Wandile Molebatsi, Luthuli Dlamini and Godfrey Thobejane as well as surprise guest appearances from the likes of David Kau and Metro FM’s top DJ, T-Bo Touch, has already scooped numerous awards on the festival circuit. It has garnered wins at the Global Independent Film Awards, Silicon Valley African Film Festival, Bronzelens Film Festival, The Film Awards and the Queen City Film Festival.

The action comedy arrives at a time when the local film industry is transforming in terms of the nature of the stories being doled out to the public. The appetite for imaginative storytelling that illustrates the diverse nature of our lives has never been this great.

Safe Bet ticks all the right boxes, taking imaginative scriptwriting to the next level.

The stellar cast brings to life the story of a down-and-out do-gooder Frank (Molebatsi) who is swayed to take the easy way out by investing in a fixed boxing match. The twist is that he uses his boss’s funds, which he must return before it’s too late. Molebatsi is sublime in this role and is complemented splendidly by Thobejane who plays his hapless and none-the-wiser best friend, Khaya. With Khaya being the mastermind in every endeavour to secure funds, the film’s comedic recipe is set in motion and leads to an encounter with the villain of the piece, called Doc, played by Dlamini.

The South African film environment is yet to see a villain of Doc’s calibre. Dlamini executes a delightful English accent as a learned thug with impeccable comedic timing. Stand-up comedian David Kau also makes a hilarious and memorable appearance as an odd, off-putting assassin.

“I never doubted Luthuli as the perfect fit for the role of Doc: he has a certain machismo that goes with him,” says Bonginhlanhla ‘Mr B’ Ncube, director and producer.

“He pulled off an amazing accent that spiced up his dialogue delivery. I think he is worth watching over and over again. The same goes for Wandile Molebatsi and the amazing cast that we worked with on this film.”

The film offers thrill-a-minute action with plots and twists aplenty to keep the audience guessing at every turn. There are elements of the caper style of film-making as popularised by Guy Ritchie, blended in with home-grown humour and ekasi sentiment.

The film also stars revered South African thespians Jerry Mofokeng and Nandi Nyembe. Zintle Ncipa and Palesa Mofokeng star as treacherous dames, Makena and Lucy.

For more information and bookings, visit www.sterkinekor.com. Also visit the film page on www.safebetfilm.com and follow @SafeBetFilm on social media networks to stay updated.